Case Study Solar PV Installs

Project Birmingham Airport

m3 : Measure; Monitor; Minimise At npower we recognise that energy management is a journey. We have designed our products to help businesses with each stage of this journey – from initial measurement of the energy, to understanding how it is being used, right through to looking at options for sustainable energy generation.

Capturing the sun at Birmingham Airport

Background

Birmingham Airport is the 5th largest in the UK, servicing over 9 million customers a year. The airport consists of a significant number of different airlines (both domestic and international). As a large energy user Birmingham Airport was keen to reduce their carbon footprint.

Solution

In partnership with npower, Birmingham Airport has installed a 50kpw Solar Photovoltaic (PV) system to generate renewable electricity on site and reduce the airports dependency on electricity from the National Grid. The installation of the 200 Solar PV panels is the first step in a larger project to improve energy management on the airport site.

Paul Kehoe, the Airport’s CEO, said: “It’s exciting for the Airport to present such a visible commitment to energy reduction. Managing our greenhouse gas emissions is a high priority for the company and we’re always seeking new opportunities to work with partners to reduce our carbon footprint.”

npower is a leading provider of Solar PV to commercial properties in the UK and in partnership with Photon Energy was selected to install the PV panels on the airport site. Starting in October 2011, npower completed full site surveys, detailed designs, installation and commissioning by December 2011.

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Benefits

The 200 Solar PV panels installed on the terminal roof will save Birmingham Airport 22 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year. The 1.6m x 1m panels will generate 40, 000 kWh of electricity annually, which is sufficient to power twelve average sized houses.

An added benefit is the government’s Feed in Tariff (FiT) scheme. The FIT scheme enables businesses to receive a fixed payment (“generation tariff”) from the government for electricity they generate from renewable sources such as solar panels and wind turbines. For every kWh they export to the National Grid, they receive an additional payment (“export tariff”). These payments are in addition to bill savings made by using self- generated electricity.

How PV cells work

Fuse box Import

Export

InverterAC/DC

Daylight

Appliances

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Solar cells within the PV panels act as a semi conductor that convert daylight into electricity.

The electricity generated by the panels is DC (Direct Current), this is then converted to AC (Alternating Current), by an inverter so it can be used within the premises.

Appliances can be used as normal via the consumer unit.

Where the demand is less than supply from the PV system, any spare electricity can be sold back as ‘export’ under the Feed in Tariff scheme.

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npower is a registered trademark and the trading name of Npower Limited (registered in England and Wales No. 3653277), Npower Direct Limited (registered in England and Wales No. 3782443), Npower Northern Limited (registered in England and Wales No. 3432100) and associated companies. Registered office: Windmill Hill Business Park, Whitehill Way, Swindon, SN5 6PB.

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