Port sees solar panel and battery installation

The system, to be installed by Custom Solar, will incorporate approximately 10,000 roof solar panels on the roofs and on car park canopies, a large scale battery and electric vehicle charging points.

The installation will begin summer 2021 and is expected to be completed by spring 2022. When complete, the power produced by the solar system will contribute around 4,200,000 kilowatt-hours per annum.

The power produced will reduce Lakeside's reliance on grid electricity by 36%. In the first year the installation will result in the reduction of 2,215 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

The project will involve installing roof-mounted solar PV on the 5 buildings at Lakeside, as well as solar PV above the car parks on canopies. 2.6 megawatt-hour battery will store excess solar generation that can be used during peak demand, to further help reduce energy costs and use carbon-free electricity in-house. 

The battery will also be used to offer 'grid services', allowing power to be stored or discharged as required by the national electricity grid; so that the amount of renewable generation can be balanced with demand.

40 Electric Vehicle charging points are proposed to be installed at Lakeside at the same time as the solar; with the infrastructure to install additional charging points as demand increases.