Renewable energy and electric vehicle support in Portsmouth

author: FutureCar Staff    

Portsmouth City Council has embarked on a new project aimed at enhancing solar panel provision and electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure for the community. The project is taking place at Lakeside North Harbour and will involve the construction of one of the largest solar parking canopy projects in the UK. This will be achieved by installing roof-mounted solar PV arrays on five buildings and solar car park canopies across three car parks, all equipped with battery storage provisions.

The solar canopies will be created above existing car parking spaces and will consist of 7,105 solar PV panels. In addition, the project will include the implementation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, with the flexibility to add more charging points as demand increases. The battery storage system will also play a crucial role by providing service to the local electricity network during periods of high demand. This will be made possible by the battery's ability to store excess energy.

The facility is expected to have a significant environmental impact, with an estimated reduction of over 860 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. Furthermore, the solar PV system will generate more than 4 million kWhs of energy annually, which is equivalent to powering 1,300 homes for a year. Approximately 64% of this energy will be consumed by the facility itself, with the battery providing additional power. The battery storage system will be carefully controlled to maximize efficiency and benefit the facility's users. For example, during times of high-power prices, the battery will discharge energy to Lakeside, reducing grid consumption.

Cllr Kimberly Barrett, the Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Greening the City, expressed her enthusiasm for the project, stating, "We are constantly striving to improve our solar power in Portsmouth, and embarking on what could potentially be the largest solar canopy project in the UK is a significant step towards achieving our goal of Net Zero by 2030 and adopting greener energy sources in the city."

This facility in Portsmouth bears similarities to a project being undertaken by Northumberland County Council, where they are revolutionizing their fleet operations. You can find more information about their project here.

Image credit: iStock

FutureCar Staff