As one of the UK’s foremost commercial driver training centre, based in Springburn, Glasgow were keen to support the Scottish government’s carbon reduction targets of producing 100% electricity from renewable sources by the year 2020 and contribute towards climate change which will leave a carbon free legacy for decades to come.
Carbon Free Generation System
In order to explore and assess the potential that the centre had for adopting a carbon free generation system, Tony MacDonald, Sustainable Energy Consultant from REAG UK (Renewable Energy Advisory Group) was contacted in order to advise on the various options that would be available.
After initial discussions an arrangement was then made for a full energy review to be carried out. This was serviced by Energy Savings Trust Scotland (EST) in August 2011. Once this review was carried out and key areas of potential energy generating technologies were assessed, it was concluded that a photovoltaic solar array was the most efficient and practical solution for the centre.
A 2 phase approach installed and Commissioned in Nov 2011:
Phase 1 consisted of installing a 9.6kW solar array consisting of approximately 40 x 240w Csun Solar Crystalline Photovoltaic panels/modules on 62m2 of the south facing roof of the training centre in order to monitor the performance of the system prior to starting phase 2. This system is designed to produce circa 7,459Kwh (hours of electricity) per annum. Saving 6.2 tonne CO2 per annum.
A Power- Solar Lake 10000tl inverter was installed to control the flow of DC (direct currency) received from outside radiation (gained from daylight) and convert to AC (alternating current) which in turn is distributed for use throughout the centre for electrical use. The system was installed and commissioned by Emotion Energy. Once this system was commissioned and operational phase two of the integration was initiated.
2nd Phase installed and Commissioned in May 2012
Phase 2 consisted of installing a 30.24kW array consisting of approximately 126x240w Csun panels/modules mounted on 190m2 roof area, adding circa 23,496 kWh of carbon free electricity per annum. 2 x Fronius IG Plus 150V -3 inverters were installed to managed system conversion. Saving 19.5 Tonne CO2 per Annum
Reducing The Operational Cost Of Energy Consumption
Annual electricity use prior to renewable measures was 125,000kWhr causing a carbon foot print of over 66 tonne CO2 per annum.Combined energy generation from solar production circa 30,955 kWhr per annum – creating a reduction of 25% in costs with this saving rising annually in line with energy rate increases.
Combined saving of 16.3 tonne CO2 per year – creating a saving of 25% in current Carbon emissions.
The solar panels have a life expectancy of 40 years further benefiting in the overall scheme of the centres carbon and electrical savings. In line with government Feed-in-Tariff incentives the centre will benefit from a guaranteed power generation income for the next 25 years.
Assisted funding sourced by Tony MacDonald to allow ease of purchase and integration of the system as well as an early payback on investment.
View The Samil Power Solar Lake Data Sheet Here