The Reef Leisure Centre in Sheringham goes green
Today, we handed over North Norfolk District Council’s brand new solar carports. The solar energy from the carport will significantly reduce The Reef Leisure Centre’s energy costs and CO2 footprint. The Council has committed to achieving Net Zero Carbon emissions by 2030 and is exploring options for reducing energy usage and maximising efficiencies across its estate. RenEnergy is thrilled to be part of this journey. Kate Rawlings, climate and environmental policy manager for North Norfolk District Council said: “This carport has been designed to deliver a significant amount of the Reef’s electricity which will reduce the centre’s energy costs and emissions.”
The solution is designed to enable CO2 savings of 50,206 kg/year. We installed a 265kWp solution across about two-thirds of the parking space, using mono-pitched steel frames. This resulted in a solar generator surface of 1,265 m2, with minimal yield reduction due to shading. 648 solar modules and two 100kW inverters were used.
“We have been blessed and been lucky to have such a great team behind us throughout this project. We’re proud to have partnered with the council to make this a reality.” said our MD, Damian Baker.
Work was done in two phases – the first involved piling work to install bolts 1.5m into the ground, and the second phase was the construction. Councillor Adam Varley, portfolio holder for Net Zero & Climate Change said during the installation: “Fast progress is being made at The Reef and we’re pleased that we can deliver even more sustainability at the leisure centre. Innovations like the solar carport are vital for us to reduce our carbon emissions towards our 2030 Net Zero aims.”
Bespoke carport solutions
We design, supply and install each custom-made solution to maximise available space and energy yield, engineered from the ground up. Apart from the technical design of the solution, we design practical ergonomic solutions that take factors such as driver visibility, vehicle door opening and traffic management plans into account.
Our commercial solar carports comprise a bespoke structure with high-spec solar panels that are energy dense and provide good yield. The compact design and innovative ground fixings allow a quick and efficient build, with minimal disruption to your site. As well as improving your onsite parking, our solar carports also provide a clear display of your commitment to sustainability. The structures can accommodate energy storage, allowing you to use your solar energy beyond daylight hours, and electric vehicle (EV) charging points to meet increasing EV charging demand.
All RenEnergy solar carports can be equipped with a range of technologies, either during installation or retrofitted:
LED lighting, for increased safety
Rainwater harvesting and guttering
CCTV
Energy storage
EV charging points
Branding
RenEnergy’s solar carports provide clean, cost-effective energy for businesses by using real estate that is otherwise under utilised, without losing a single parking space. Project Manager at RenEnergy, William Lloyd, said: “While solar carports are indeed an innovative way of utilising space to generate energy, these carports are also a very visible demonstration of an organisation’s commitment to sustainability. I hope that The Reef inspires others to embrace solar solutions as an efficient way to manage costs and most importantly, a crucial part of their sustainability journey.”
IN THE NEWS: