Oct 14, 2011

Products & Solutions / Blog Posts

London Blackfriars Station to Be Fitted with HIT Solar Modules

The new Blackfriars station - which is being built on a bridge spanning the River Thames - is on its way to becoming the world's largest solar bridge after work started last week to install over 4,400 solar photovoltaic (PV) panels for a 1.103MW solar array.

  • 01_blackfriars_CG.jpg
    A CG Image of How HIT Solar Panels Will Look on the Roof of the New Blackfriars Station in London
    (Image property of Network Rail)

The Victorian bridge, built in 1886, is the foundation for the new Blackfriars station, which is being upgraded by Network Rail Limited (Network Rail) to cater for more passengers and an improved train service. A new roof, added to the historic structure, will incorporate over 6,000m2 of HIT PV panels, creating the biggest solar array in London.

HIT solar panels will generate an estimated 900,000kWh of electricity every year, providing 50% of the station's energy and reducing CO2 emissions by an estimated 511 tonnes per year. In addition to solar panels, other energy saving measures at the new station will include rain harvesting systems and sun pipes for natural lighting.

  • 02_blackfriars.jpg
  • 03_blackfriars.jpg

Installation Work on the Roof of the New Blackfriars Station (Image property of Network Rail)

The Blackfriars upgrade is part of Network Rail's Thameslink programme, which will see longer trains running on the route from Bedford to Brighton through London. Once the upgrade is complete, up to 24 trains per hour will be able to run on the central London section of the route.

  • 04_blackfriars_CG.jpg
    A Brid's Eye-view of the New Blackfriars Station (Image property of Network Rail)

Related Links:

The content in this website is accurate at the time of publication but may be subject to change without notice.
Please note therefore that these documents may not always contain the most up-to-date information.
Please note that German, French and Chinese versions are machine translations, so the quality and accuracy may vary.

Featured news