Product category:
Solar Energy Services
News Release from: Solarcentury | Subject: Photovoltaic panels
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 09 May 2005
Crane access to photovoltaic panels.
The UK's largest road-going crane will tower 133m over the Manchester sky line as part of the ambitious project to clad the CIS Tower with solar panels.
The UK's largest road-going crane will tower 133m over the Manchester sky line as part of the ambitious project to clad the CIS Tower with solar panels CIS asked solarcentury, the UK's leading solar energy company to 'develop a solution' for ventilated PV rain cladding
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 20 Dec 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Solarcentury on greening existing housing stock
Photovoltaic panels from Solarcentury used by Cole Thompson Anders Architects as part of the modernising and refurbishment of Glastonbury house, a 22 storey residential block in Westminster.
Solarcentury innovation for sustainable homes
Solarcentury continues solar innovation for sustainable home with C21e Slate and new energy display system to be exhibited at at Interbuild
Arup then employed solarcentury to act as PV consultants, providing specialised PV knowledge and design.
The crane will lift a cradle, which will be used for cleaning and maintenance of the photovoltaic panels once they have been fitted, on to the top of Manchester's tallest building.
When the work is complete at the end of the year, the panels will create 180,000 units of renewable electricity each year - enough energy to make nine million cups of tea.
Further reading
Fit every school in UK with a green energy source
The Co-operative and project partner Solarcentury challenges big business and the Government to help fit every school in the UK with a green energy source by 2020.
Solarcentury and W Copeland new eco development
Solarcentury has provided its unique integrated solar photovoltaic C21e tiles for W Copeland and Son's new environmentally friendly development of apartments and townhouses in Northern Ireland.
The GBP 5.5m solar project, the largest ever in the UK, is being supported by a GBP 885,000 grant from the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and a GBP 175,000 grant from the Department of Trade and Industry.
It is expected that the 400 ft high array of dark blue solar panels, which will work regardless of the weather, will stand out on the Manchester skyline and even become a tourist attraction.
Gary Thomas, Head of Property and Facilities at Co-operative Financial Services (CFS), which was formed to bring the CIS and The Co-operative Bank together, said: "This is a landmark development, in every sense of the phrase".
"For Manchester, the UK and for the whole of Europe it demonstrates that solar panels are viable almost anywhere".
"The Grade ll listed CIS building is now more than 40 years old and the small mosaic tiles that clad the service tower of the building need replacing.
These solar panels are the ideal solution.
They will protect the tower from the elements, enhance its appearance and generate significant amounts of renewable energy.
Bryan Gray, Chair of the NWDA said: "We are delighted to be supporting this high profile project which typifies how innovative and forward looking this region is".
"40 per cent of Europe's energy use is associated with buildings, but old building stock is renewed at only two per cent per annum.
Therefore, renewable energy and energy efficient solutions for existing buildings will be key to delivering national and regional targets in this area".
"As climate change moves up the political agenda, the North West is yet again shining a beacon and leading the way for the rest of the UK.".
• Solarcentury: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Buildingtalk email newsletter
• Buildingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
