Mitie and Portsmouth City Council Unveil Plans for One of the Largest Solar Parking Canopies in UK

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• Mitie and Portsmouth City Council Unveil Plans for One of the Largest Solar Parking Canopies in UK

25 August 2023

A solar PV and battery installation has been confirmed to go ahead at Lakeside North Harbour, set to be one of the largest solar parking canopy projects in the UK.

The canopy will consist of 1,820 roof-mounted solar PV panels across five buildings and 7,105 solar PV panels will be installed above existing car parking spaces, creating solar canopies.   

A 2MW battery installation to store excess solar energy, to be used at peak periods during the day and provide services to the local electricity network at times of high demand will also be installed. 

The Solar PV system will generate more than 4 million kWh per annum which is the same as powering 1,300 homes (average 3-bed house) for a year and is projected to save more than 860 tonnes of carbon dioxide from being emitted each year.   

Mitie will be installing the solar panels, solar canopies, 2MW battery and EV chargers alongside the council's in-house energy services and building projects team who will be managing and funding the installation.  

Councillor Kimberly Barrett, Cabinet member for Climate Change and Greening the City said: "We are constantly aiming to improve our solar power in Portsmouth, and to begin working on possibly the largest solar canopy project in the UK is a great step in coming closer to our goal of net-zero by 2030 and using greener energy in the city."   

Simon Bateman, Manager at Lakeside said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for Lakeside businesses to benefit from the council's 2030 net zero target at no direct cost to them.  This solar project will enable us to have a 100% green electric supply for all 55 businesses at Lakeside. The environment is a fundamental core value at Lakeside – from creating the right atmosphere for our occupier community, to driving sustainability and efficient use of our valuable resources." 

Picture: a photograph of the proposed site from above, showing several solar canopies with cars underneath. Image Credit: Mitie

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 25 August 2023

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