Location: Brixton, London

Date: March 2008

Category: Social Housing

Overview:

Southern Solar was approached by LAD construction to find a solar solution for a redevelopment project in Brixton. The project consisted of a solar electric system for a new community centre and solar hot water systems for 15 adjoining flats. The development for the Metropolitan Housing Association required the solar systems as well as a ground source heat pump to meet the Eco Homes ‘Very Good’ rating.

Our solution:

Southern Solar was contacted after the project had gone to site, meaning there was a very short lead time to the solar panel installation. Planning permission stipulated that the solar hot water panels had to be roof integrated. The building consists of three cores and a bespoke flashing solution was required in order to bridge each of the fire walls. It was also important that the 15 panels were arranged to minimise the pipe connections hitting the rafters. The 5.67kWp solar electric system was surface mounted to avoid any delays in the build schedule. Originally the solar electric panels were to be mounted on a different west facing roof, however in order to reduce shading and to maximise the systems output, Southern Solar advised that the solar electric system should go beneath the hot water system. The electric cables supplying the community centre were run through the flats’ risers. The final result is an aesthetically pleasing system with minimal maintenance requirements.

Facts

• Providing electricity to a community centre and solar hot water to 15 flats

• 5.67 kW solar electric system and 60m2 Filsol solar hot water array

• CO2 saving from the solar hot water 5791.5 kg and electric 2580kg per annum

• 100% funding, 50% LCBP phase 2 and 50% Lambeth Council RSL Renewable Energy Grant