London Fire Brigade

Organisation:

London Fire Brigade

Size:

Large

Location:

Richmond Fire Station, Richmond

Aim:

To demonstrate the feasibility of integrating renewable energy technologies into an operational fire station.

Savings:

Generation of 12,000kWh electricity per year and saving 6.5 tonnes CO2 emissions per year.

How the Richmond Fire Station made a difference

Richmond Fire Station is one of seven London Fire Brigade sites that are benefiting from solar photovoltaic installation. The photovoltaic array on this particular station is spread over three distinct areas: the roof windows, a flat roof and a pitched roof.

The 38m2 roof windows were fitted with 24 80W photovoltaic glass-glass laminates (GGL) with a peak power in the skylights of 1.92kWp.

Exactly 32 Sanyo 190W photovoltaic modules were installed on Richmond Fire Station’s flat roof area. The total surface of the flat area is also 38m2, and is capable of producing a total of 6.08kWp.

The pitched roof deployed 48 Sanyo 190W photovoltaic modules. This covers a total area of 57m2, capable of producing a total peak DC power of 9.12 kilowatts.

In total, 80 monocrystalline Sanyo 190W photovoltaic modules with an 80m2 active cell area and 24 80W glass-glass laminate panels with an active cell area of 38m2 were used.

This will generate 12,000kWh electricity per year and save 6.5 tonnes CO2 emissions in the same period .

The installations tested the London Fire Brigade’s willingness to change. The project life cycle presented a steep learning curve to all involved. However, through teamwork the lessons learned became fewer and fewer and will work to benefit similar projects in the future.

To mark the achievement, London Fire Commissioner Ron Dobson presented the LFB Energy Team with a special award for outstanding performance in all areas of energy, including renewables.

Reducing energy consumption

A major spin-off benefit is that fire station staff are now much more aware of saving energy as a result of the installations and observation of the display panel. Lights, computers and other appliances are now being switched off when not in use and doors/windows are kept closed to prevent heat escaping unnecessarily. The electricity and gas bills have been reduced even further owing to a raised awareness of energy and climate change related issues, which is underpinned by a major internal communications campaign – LFB Green.

This project was supported by the Department for Trade and Industry (DTI) Large Photovoltaic Demonstration Scheme, managed by the Energy Saving Trust. It has been a great success for the Brigade and shows how even an operational fire station can be retrofitted with renewable energy systems without much disruption to daily work.