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Full steam ahead for King’s Cross solar

King’s Cross Railway Station’s new 280kWp solar glazing system has officially been switched on today.

The £1.3m award-winning building-integrated project forms an integral part of Network Rail’s green building programme and is expected to generate 175,000kWh of electricity a year – saving over 100 tonnes of CO2 emissions.

The array is made up of 1,392 custom made glass laminate panels which form part of the station’s two large barrel vaulted roofs spanning the main platforms.

Design and supply of components for the installation was undertaken by Sundog Energy whilst Kier was the main contractor. The custom made PV panels were manufactured by Romag.

Martin Cotterell, founder and technical director of Sundog Energy, said: “King’s Cross has been a fantastic project to work on – but also a labour of love. We are very proud of our involvement as we believe the project combines the very best in modern design technical excellence and sustainability with the grace of one of the UK’s most iconic grade 1 listed buildings.”

Simon Matthews, senior project manager for Kier Construction, said: “The switch on of the PV system is the culmination of a massive effort by the project team, working with specialists in the renovation and refurbishment of the structure, using innovative methods which have allowed the works to be undertaken above a live station.”

Phil Murray, managing director of Romag, added: “King’s Cross is a fantastic example of how renewable technologies can be integrated into the fabric of a building and is testament to what can be achieved to reduce carbon emissions, particularly in a listed building in an urban area. As one of only a few companies equipped to manufacture this type of PV, Romag is proud to be associated with this flagship project.”