Photovoltaic panels installed at new defence college

More than a thousand photovoltaic roof panels (solar panels) have been installed onto the roofs of four buildings at the Defence College of Logistics, Policing and Administration (DCLPA) at Worthy Down, Hampshire.

A total of 1,625 photovoltaic panels have been installed at the college as part of refurbishment works being undertaken by the companies Skanska and AECOM, under the instruction and commission of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO).

These panels will produce a total energy output of some 413,307kWh/year and will save the £300M facility a sum of £58,000 per year on electricity, a saving that is equivalent to the powering of precisely 133 domestic properties for a whole year.

The DIO’s Principal Project Manager, Matthew Richardson stated: “Prior to the installation of the panels, the base did not have the capability for on-site electricity generation, so this is an exciting new addition.

“The photovoltaic panels will not only deliver considerable savings to the Ministry of Defence (MOD), but also help preserve the planet’s resources, so it is a win-win situation.”

The Project Director for Skanska, Paul Weale added: “Skanska recently announced its commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions on its projects by 2045, including its supply chain. It’s a core part of our whole approach to construction.

“This initiative to install solar panels at Worthy Down, not only fulfils the DIO’s requirement, but also demonstrates how being environmentally conscious and cost conscious can be entirely aligned.”

The college will accommodate personnel from the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, and British Army under one roof, making the development a landmark project in the sharing of knowledge and techniques between British security forces.

The scheme at Worthy Down is part of a two phase project, named Project Wellesley, the second phase of which entails the development of a new community, named Mindenhurst, at the site of the former Princess Royal Barracks in Deepcut, Surrey.

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