On the banks of the River Thames, the work began on the installation of 4,400 solar panels on the roof of Blackfriars station, located on the homonymous Victorian bridge across the river in London since 1886. The project is part of the Thameslink building program provides for the solarization of the station, closed since march 2009 for work that will make it a gem eco-friendly. The total area of photovoltaic modules will be 6,000 square meters, and will allow an annual production of electricity of about 900 000 kWh. According to the calculations of the designers, it will reduce carbon dioxide emissions about 511 tons per year.
But the goal of manufacturers is more ambitious. They want to reduce emissions per passenger by 25% by 2020. The investment of 7.3 million pounds (8.4 million euro) provided for eco-makeover station provides in addition to the panels, the installation of solar chimneys that allow access to the sun's rays inside structure, favoring the natural light and also the location of a plant for the recovery of rainwater. The project will lead to the halving of the electricity needs of the station. "The bridge to the Victorian station Blackfriars station is part of English history," said Lindsay Vamplew, project manager for Network Rails. "It was built when the trains were steam with solar technology and restructuring will make him a symbol of our city."
The plant will be the largest solar power in London, and make the station more environmentally friendly and sustainable in Britain. For now, there is another solar bridge in the world,is in Australia, Brisbane Kurilpa catwalk. In the beginning of the year, about 16,000 panels were installed on the Belgian rail tunnel and it would produce enough energy to power all the trains in the country.
