London’s fire and rescue service is the busiest in the country and one of the largest firefighting and rescue organisations in the world.

London fire and rescue wanted to reduce their carbon emissions and lower their energy bills across 8 sites.

Consultation

A detailed consultation was completed looking at all 8 sites evaluating their potential for solar panels and other energy-saving technologies.

Detailed design

• Careful planning was required to ensure the systems could be installed without interfering with the operations of the fire stations or controls centres – where safety-critical and life-saving operations are 24/7.
• As with all our installs, best practice was first and foremost and our designs met the very strict criteria and standards that LFB set out for solar PV installations. 
• Solaredge optimisers and inverters were used to reduce the effects of shading and for the excellent fire safety features.
• All systems had firefighter cut-off safety systems which are integrated into the fire alarm system allowing for the system to be shut down in the event of the fire alarm sounding. 
• Designs were optimised to get the most efficiency out of the panels. This includes mounting and shade analysis.

Installation and handover

Working alongside Basingstoke Energy Services Co-operative, our commercial solar team installed 296 panels across 8 sites in a short space of time before a reduction in the feed-in tariffs incentive schemes.  Our specialist German hoisting equipment was perfect for these installs, the hoists take up a very little footprint of the outside space meaning the operations of the fire stations would not be impeded.

Technologies

Inverters:  Solar Edge

Panels: Suctech Power