Eight npower sites across the UK are now producing carbon-free electricity following the installation of over 200 solar modules across eight of its key UK premises. The energy giant installed the solar arrays to help achieve its target of reducing the carbon emissions from its offices by 38% by 2014.

The 50kWp arrays were installed on a range of buildings, including one of npower’s power stations at Little Barford in St Neots and one its main call centres in Houghton-le-Spring, near Sunderland.   

Indeed, Birchfield House – an npower office in Oldbury – has already seen a 16% reduction in electricity consumption from last year due, in large part, to the solar PV as well as other energy saving measures implemented across the site.  

Inclement weather conditions and the varying shape of the roofs provided the installation teams with significant challenges. For example, a Mansafe system was implemented at Birchfield House to help negate the risk provided by the building’s rounded roofs.    

Dave Horton, Property Sustainability and Capital Investment Manager from npower, commented: “npower is committed to reducing the environmental impact and carbon footprint of our sites. This project is designed to help us meet these aims. It is great to see the significant results achieved already at Birch House and across our other sites.

“The comprehensive planning that went into the project was really important to make sure it was completed on time and as efficiently as possible. It was particularly essential as not only did we have to install the solar PV on a variety of buildings and roof styles, we also had to contend with all the elements the great British summer weather threw at us. The project was completed swiftly in under two weeks and it was crucial disruption was kept to a minimum as the sites were fully operational throughout.”

Site specific specifications:

  • Birch House, Oldbury: 204 LDK 235p-20 Panels / Fronius Inverters IG Plus 120
  • Birchfield House, Oldbury: 198 LDK 235p-20 Panels / Fronius Inverters IG Plus 120
  • Princes Way, Solihull: 200 LDK 235p-20 Panels / Fronius Inverters IG Plus 120 & 150
  • Rainton House, Houghton-le-Spring: 208 LDK 235p-20 Panels / Fronius Inverters IG Plus 120 & 150
  • Didcot B Power Station: 212 LDK 235p-20 Panels / Fronius Inverters IG Plus 120 & 150
  • Staythorpe Power Station: 212 LDK 235p-20 Panels / Fronius Inverters IG Plus 120 & 150
  • Aberthaw Power Station: 212 LDK 235p-20 Panels / Fronius Inverters IG Plus 120 & 150
  • Little Barford Power Station, St Neots: 212 LDK 235p-20 Panels / Fronius Inverters IG Plus 120 & 150