The Victorian rail bridge in the heart of London, Blackfriars Bridge originally built during the age of steam in 1886, will become the biggest solar array in the city and probably the world’s largest solar bridge.
After the complete installation, the roof of the Blackfriars railway station will have 6,000 square meters of solar panels to give half of power needed for station. All the 16,000 solar panels on the roof will provide power to signalling, lighting and heating the railway station.
Blackfriars Bridge has started to have over 4,400 high efficient solar panels installed by London based Solarcentury and engineers from Jacobs. Using funds from the Department for Transport, the solar installation will generate 900,000 kWh every year. In conjunction with other saving measures such as rain harvesting system or sun pipes for natural lighting the energy efficiency measures will be achieved.
The new Blackfriars Station is being redeveloped as part of a Network Rail Thameslink program which aims to have longer trains, more seats for commuters on their from Bedford to Brighton via London.
