Solar power comes to Edith Morley building

Monday, 23 July 2018

The Edith Morley building could become the University’s most energy efficient building following the installation of 460 solar panels on its roof. The panels have been installed as part of the University’s programme to cut its carbon emissions by 45%.  It is anticipated they will provide 20% of the building’s annual electricity consumption, peaking at around 60% on a sunny summer’s day.

The building currently has a ‘B’ Display Energy Certificate (DEC) rating, and the combination of the solar PV, double glazing and improved insulation should see it edge towards becoming the University’s first ‘A’ rated building in summer 2019.  The building’s energy performance can be tracked on the Sustainability Services website; which will soon include the solar generation too.

The PV installations have been installed without Government subsidy, and are still expected to pay for themselves within 9 years.  With an expected 30+ year lifetime, they will, therefore, pay for themselves many times over, as well as cutting 50 tCO₂ annually from the University’s carbon footprint.

Work is also underway to re-install the old PV panels from the Engineering building onto the flat roof of the Edith Morley ‘link’ building and later this summer, the Wager building will have approximately 30 kWp solar panels installed, timed alongside the roof replacement works. 

The University currently has 4 PV installations - on Carrington, Estates & Facilities, SportsPark Pavilion and Windrush buildings - which generated 52,100 kWh electricity over the last year; equivalent to approximately 17 households. The new Edith Morley and Wager installations will see the University’s solar PV generation more than treble.

Plans are also progressing for a trial battery storage installation; a joint initiative between the School of the Built Environment and Sustainability Services.

For more information on sustainability at the University, visit www.reading.ac.uk/sustainability.