CLIENT

SITE

CONSULTANCY TYPE

THE TASK

The building is part of a business park development. The client wanted to achieve a good energy performance certificate and reduce the building’s negative impact on the planet.

To do so the building needed a substantially sized 48 kWp solar photovoltaic (PV) system. For a variety of reasons, it needed to be installed urgently, within a couple of weeks.

Building supply chains everywhere are under intense pressure and the supply of PV panels are no different. The project required 120 panels to be installed, a significant number to be sourced. PV installations are also weather dependent and require multiple contractors and teams to be mobilised at the same time including crane lifts, electricians and health and safety managers.

The siting of PV panels is extremely important. Easy access for cleaners and other plant maintenance needs to be maintained whilst still ensuring the panels receive the maximum amount of sun exposure - not just during the day but throughout the year as the sun shifts position.

OUR APPROACH

Resero used dynamic simulation modelling to create a digital twin of the building and roof. We used shade-casting to identify the optimal placement for the system as well as the type of system that would deliver the correct yield.

We were then able to utilise our existing relationships with high-quality, trusted contractors to source the system and secure an installation date within the required timescale.

Working with the contractor, Barrie Beard, we produced an engineering design alongside a document detailing the full employer requirements such as system specifications, location, electrical integration and expected costings. 

We also undertook client duties under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM) including appointing a principal designer and contractor, work planning and programming including compiling pre-construction and health and safety documentation and liaison with all stakeholders.

We oversaw each phase of work including testing of all systems and specifying how maintenance and monitoring should be adopted into business-as-usual operations. If PV panels are not maintained and cleaned frequently it impacts on the amount of electricity produced. 

The details of the system have been digitised and added to our unique EDGE APM software that helps maintain a ‘golden thread’ of digital information on a building, a key requirement of the Building Safety Act 2022. This not only improves building safety but also facilitates future asset management decisions. 

It also helps us monitor the system’s performance as part of ongoing energy data monitoring and auditing of contractor performance.

OUTCOMES

The modelling shows the system should deliver up to 5% of the energy used by the building over the course of a year. Tenants and the landlord should begin to see a reduction in energy bills and carbon emissions over the course of this year and subsequent years. With rising energy costs, global warming and poor energy security, any move to improve building resilience and reduce its negative impact on the planet will help make a difference. 

The building has also achieved a ‘B’ EPC rating ahead of the government’s proposed legislative timetable which stipulates buildings should achieve a ‘C’ EPC rating by 2027 and a ‘B’ by 2030. Currently, only 18% of buildings in the UK are rated ‘B’ EPC rating. The project was completed within the very tight timescales and within budget.

Ian Scott, a senior facilities manager at MAPP, the managing agents at the site commented: “The PV installation recently carried out and managed by Resero went extremely smoothly and was very impressive. The project was set up perfectly, well managed during the fit out and feedback was provided at all times on progress. All care taken to ensure a smooth roll out. It was by far the best project I have seen run in a long time. I would definitely recommend this to all my clients.”