Work complete on 1000 solar panels at BGS
More than 1000 energy-saving solar panels have been installed at BGS's headquarters in Keyworth, Nottinghamshire.
07/12/2022 By BGS Press
The new solar car port array in the 3980 m2 car park, which has been installed in the BGS grounds just off Nicker Hill in Keyworth, was approved by Rushcliffe Borough Council in 2020. It follows additional work approved by Rushcliffe Borough Council to install more than 1751 solar panels on the site’s National Geological Repository, which is home to the largest collection of rock core samples in the UK.
Solar panels are now in place on a 3100 m2 area of the car port’s roof and are set to generate 589 165 kwh of electricity annually, saving an estimated 305 776 kg of carbon each year. They are designed to boost energy efficiency and offset an increase in electrical usage, which is required in the organisation’s transition away from burning fossil fuels. The output generated at the port will be around 469.2 kWp (kilowatts peak) and 100 per cent of the electricity will be used on site. The car port is expected to provide a significant proportion of the energy needs for the site for at least 25 years, significantly reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
BGS accessed the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme to install its solar car ports. The work forms part of BGS’s new environmental sustainability strategy, which aims to achieve zero carbon by 2040 across three core areas of the organisation: its estates, working practices and business travel.
As a leading research organisation, we know that the work we undertake and how we support it has an impact on the environment. We’re working very hard to understand this impact so that we can minimise our footprint and transition to being a more sustainable organisation.
We’re lucky to have a headquarters based in such a beautiful area of the East Midlands, so we’re very pleased to be installing the most environmentally friendly modern technologies on our sites.
Generating our own electricity via solar energy means that, as an organisation, we’ll be emitting less CO2 into the atmosphere, reducing our carbon footprint and increasing our sustainability credentials.’
Daniel Crow, BGS Estates Manager.
BGS provides independent geoscientific data, information and knowledge to help the UK manage its natural resources and respond to environmental change. Its work contributes to finding sustainable solutions that will help the UK to reduce its carbon footprint and safeguard the planet.
Work has already begun at the Keyworth site to increase the number of trees and shrubs, reduce grass cutting and implement new meadow areas and orchards to encourage wildlife. Further works are planned for the coming months.
We found the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme easy and friendly to use and we’re now looking forward to carrying out further exciting works in our energy transition, including ground source heating, thermal property improvement and use of modern controls.
Daniel Crow, BGS Estates Manager.
Relative topics
For media enquiries please contact Hannah Pole, BGS press office:
hapo@bgs.ac.uk | 07565297132
British Geological Survey (BGS)
The British Geological Survey (BGS) is a world-leading applied geoscience research centre that is part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and affiliated to the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). The BGS works with more than 150 private sector organisations, has close links to 40 universities and sponsors about 100 PhD students each year. Please see www.bgs.ac.uk.
Related news

Join the BGS Board
06/09/2023
BGS is looking to appoint one to two non-executive directors to join our board.

Evolving policies in the face of climate change: BGS data can help
25/08/2023
Climate change is increasingly recognised as a major challenge for organisations, with the need for adaptation driving a wave of policy updates and reforms across multiple sectors. BGS data holdings are relevant to many of these changes and the following examples outline how these data packages can be applied.

New report assesses deep geothermal energy in the UK
17/07/2023
A new BGS report assesses the current situation around and future potential of deep geothermal energy in the UK.

Mineral investigation reports released online
07/07/2023
Reports from over 260 mineral exploration projects are now freely available on BGS’s GeoIndex.

Updated biosphere map for the UK released
07/07/2023
The updated biosphere map for the UK will allow users to identify sulphur isotope variations.

Scoping report on the material requirements for a UK hydrogen economy
21/06/2023
The UK Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre has produced a scoping report that examines the aims of the UK with regards to developing a hydrogen economy, the sustainability of these targets, given current metal loadings, and provides some suggestions for overcoming potential challenges that the UK may face in securing raw materials to support this ambition.

Scoping study on metals used in specialist alloys in the aerospace industry
21/06/2023
A recent scoping study by the UK Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre assesses the application, importance and supply-chain risks associated with specialist alloys used in the aerospace and defence industries.

BGS unveils #TheCommoditree at Glastonbury 2023
21/06/2023
The new installation is part of a unique touring festival stand showcasing how modern lifestyles wouldn’t be possible without rocks and minerals.

A new open dataset to benefit onshore geoscience research
15/06/2023
Data from deep onshore hydrocarbon wells is being released on an open access basis to help meet the UK’s net zero targets.

Geological Society honours BGS scientists
14/06/2023
The Geological Society has recognised the contributions of two members of BGS: director Dr Karen Hanghøj and volcanologist Dr Samantha Engwell.

NERC recognised by the Carbon Trust for its step towards net zero
07/06/2023
The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) has achieved the ‘taking action’ tier of the Carbon Trust’s Route to Net Zero Standard.

New report on the National Land Data Programme published
06/06/2023
The report, based on pilot projects across the UK, explains how spatial data and modelling can support better decisions on land use.