Staffordshire’s Aston Marina is to install a 300kVA ground mounted solar array to provide renewable power to the site.
The project has potential generating capacity of up to 280,000kWh per annum, designed to generate the optimal amount of electricity to be consumed by the business, with any excess to be sent back to the National Grid.
The project is part of Aston Marina’s commitment to invest in energy efficiency, green renewable power sources and working towards the government’s 2050 net zero targets.
The anticipated CO2 displacement is around 52.6 tonnes per year.
The marina, located on the Trent & Mersey Canal says the location for the site has been chosen to minimise the impact the construction may have on the biodiversity of the area and is part of a detailed feasibility process.
Consideration has been given to several criteria including maximum solar gain, environmental designations, ecology, biodiversity, flood risk and agricultural quality.
“Detailed studies have been carried out by technical specialists addressing these factors in the proposed scheme design and response to each of these points,” said the marina in a statement.
Sustainable future
“The project will contribute to the UK’s urgent need to transition to a sustainable, clean future by enabling energy security and self-sufficiency in the local area.
“Compared to pastoral farming, solar farms can support a biodiversity net gain by providing an overall increase in natural habitat and ecological features.
“Whilst there is an initial change to the countryside, the unmanned solar array and proposed planting scheme will fast become a haven for wildlife, producing a 10 – 15% biodiversity net gain.”
The proposed array will allow the marina to install up to ten new electric vehicle (EV) charging points on the site.
The development will be sunken into the landscape to help it from negatively visually impacting the landscape and excess ground material from the proposed area will remain on site.
The project builds on previous developments carried out by the marina including the installation of three air source heat pumps in 2023 and the replacement of lighting on the site with LES equivalents.
In addition, the marina has installed smart monitoring equipment to gauge power requirements, peaks and identify potential reductions.
A smaller 18kVA solar array has been installed and is operational on the boat workshop.
