Even though electric rail transport is considered to be a rather sustainable form of public transport, railway stations usually have soaring energy demands and high carbon footprint.
To make the necessary step into a greener future, UK operator National Rail has decided to install 4,400 solar panels on the roof of the upgraded Blackfriars railway station in London. Work on the GBP 7.3 Million (EUR 8.8 Million) project started in October 2011 as part of the ambitious GBP 5.5 Billion (EUR 6.5 Billion) Thameslink project. The 6,000 m2 of panels are expected to generate enough energy to meet half the electricity needs of the station and reduce annual CO2 emissions by an estimated 511t.
Built on the existing Victorian overpass spanning the River Thames, Blackfriars station will become the world’s largest solar bridge, once completed in 2012.
Other countries have also shown commitment to develop renewable energy for rail stations. China’s Shanghai Hongqiao railway station, for instance, went on the grid in July 2010 with a 6.7MW solar roof integrated into the building’s awnings. Currently the world’s biggest greenhouse gas emitter, China also plans to open the most energy-efficient public building in China, with the instalment of 7MW solar modules on the roof of Nanjing South railway station.
But this is not the only project of the kind in China, the modernisation of Beijing South railway station being another ambitious eco-friendly project. With construction completed in 2008, Beijing South Railway Station makes up one of four key railway stations for China’s new high speed rail network. The building is situated on a 320,000m² site.
Natural ventilation is a key feature of this building via the canopy roofs while the skylight provides daylight. Another major feature is the solar panel set up. There are over 3,000 panels generating electricity, as the structure spreads out like a ‘ray’, which covers over 8,000m² along the perimeter. This design serves to reduce CO2 output considerably. Additional sustainable elements include the use of waste heat from urban discharge water along with a district heating and cooling system.
Share on:
