With increasing costs and limited energy resources, big cities and already existing businesses within those cities use massive amounts of energy to run. Globally, cities increasingly need to find ways to cut back on consumption and costs. The advantages of solar energy are proving to be effective in London and are being incorporated in innovative ways to help the city keep costs down and decrease the damages energy consumption leaves on the environment.
Part of the Blackfriar’s Railway station, the renovated Blackfriar’s Bridge is now open with a brand new solar paneled roof. Carbon-emission-free, the 4,400 new photovoltaic solar panels will leave a much smaller overall carbon footprint for the station. An estimated 89,000 car trips worth of reduced carbon make the added panels worthwhile. In an effort to get the large railway infrastructure on track to use less energy, the newly fitted bridge is a positive step in the right direction, with more plans for additional lower environmental impact in the works for the railway system.
Built in the Victorian era, the old bridge spans the River Thames. The 4,400 panels now atop the length of the new roof which covers the bridge are the largest array of solar panels in London. The fresh new look of the bridge is also a visually beautiful feature that has added a modern style, and the more sustainable advantages of solar energy and improved function to an old form.
The United Kingdom is a leader in the installation of solar power capacity. It is included in the top ten, worldwide. Blackfriar’s Bridge is only one of the solar energy improvements already in place in the region.