The British Library and CBRE Global Workplace Solutions (GWS) have commissioned British solar thermal and solar PV developer Naked Energy for the UK’s ‘largest’ solar thermal project.
A total of 950 units of Naked Energy’s hybrid solar thermal and electricity solution, Virtu, will be installed on the roof of the building, which the company says will generate 216 MWh annually.
According to Naked Energy, the Virtu product range is the world’s highest density solar technology, generating heat and electricity from the same collector. The company says the addition of solar heat capture saves four times as much carbon as a standard solar PV panel.
The technology will provide the library’s hot water and space heating. In a rare application of solar technology, the installation will also help maintain the precise temperature and humidity needed to preserve the British Library’s national collection.
During the planning phase of the installation, Virtu solar technology was granted planning permission for the Grade II listed building. This is due to the design that does not disrupt the architecture of the Library and is not visible from street level.
Virtu technology has integrated mounting and is self-ballasting, so no roof duct is required. Furthermore, with a height of 26.5 cm, the technology is said to be compatible with both flat and sloping roofs, and can also be used on vertical facades.
Christophe Williams, founder and CEO of Naked Energy, said he hopes the project, which he called “an immense undertaking and an exciting step forward for Britain’s solar thermal industry,” will serve as “a catalyst to to inspire others in the public sector” .
The British Library received two grants under the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, administered by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and provided by Salix Finance, to fund heat decarbonisation and energy efficiency measures . In May, £530m of public investment was provided to the scheme.
Jon Benford, managing director at CBRE GWS, noting the added challenge of installing in a listed building: “We are incredibly excited to be delivering the largest solar thermal installation project in Britain for our client, the British Library . and supporting such an iconic British institution on their ‘net zero’ journey.”
In July, Naked Energy received £17 million in new capital as part of a Series B first close. The financing was led by E.ON Energy Infrastructure Solutions and supported by co-investments from Barclays. The Virtu technology suite has been installed at E.ON’s commercial and industrial scale projects across the UK and Europe.
