Surrey County Council
Reigate
The ambition
Surrey County Council, the local government authority overseeing the administration of Surrey, plays a central role in providing essential public services to the residents including education, social services, transportation and infrastructure development.
The council is actively working towards a sustainable future aligned with its Community Vision for 2030. The vision aims for residents to live in clean, safe and green communities, emphasising the shared responsibility of individuals and organisations toward the environment. Surrey’s 12 local authorities share a commitment to prioritising environmental well-being. In response to this collective ambition and in line with the UK’s goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, the council declared a ‘climate emergency’ in 2019, pledging to collaborate with partners to formulate a collective response to address the challenges posed by climate change.
Their Woodhatch Place council office in Reigate is making their own strides towards green operations as it becomes the second office to introduce a solar carport PV installation. This move by the local government office aligns with the Surrey County Council’s overall commitment to being more environmentally responsible and reducing carbon emissions.
The solution
The asymmetrical design, positioned on either side of the traffic lane, ensures unobstructed passage for large vehicles from Surrey Fire & Rescue, significantly lowering the risk of collisions during emergency response calls. Additionally, the functional layout of the north and south-facing panels strikes a practical balance between renewable energy solutions and infrastructure resilience. Strategically oriented to maximise sunlight exposure, these panels guarantee increased energy production throughout the day.
The structural components of the panels, including the material composition and frame design, are key elements to ensure durability against environmental factors and contribute to the long-term performance of the solar installation. The customised steel frame design is optimised for optimal energy generation within the available space to accommodate the curved layout of the parking area. The structure also includes provision for future integration of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and solar energy storage solutions.
Functionally, these panels harness solar energy, contributing to the production of clean electricity. The reduction in dependence on traditional energy sources results in a decrease in energy expenditure, offering a practical and economical advantage for the council office.
97.97kWp
Total installed capacity
236
Solar panels installed
2
Inverters installed
“It’s fantastic to return to deliver a second carport for Surrey County Council (SCC). We’re passionate about our product, and the design team really gave thought and consideration to the challenges this space presented to ensure maximum generation potential is achieved on-site. Working with SCC on this project has been another rewarding experience, as they recognise the value and importance of investing in sustainable projects that benefit the local community. SCC’s Net Zero 2030 Team is committed to achieving their sustainability goals, and RenEnergy will be there to help them do so.”
William Lloyd, Senior Project Manager, RenEnergy
The benefits
CO2
Annual saving of
26,767kg/year
Annual savings of 26,767kg CO2 emissions, equivalent to preserving over 17 acres of British woodlands a year
Contributes to the council’s goal of reducing carbon emissions
Reduced dependence on traditional energy sources and expenditures
Annual yield of 89,224kWh
Surrey County Council
Reigate
Note that all estimated performance figures are calculated using industry-standard systems and norms, assume ideal operating conditions, and would have been estimated as at the time of the installation.