Solar PV Feasibility for a Council

Powering Leisure Centres

Following a public competitive tender, Ennovus Solutions were awarded the contract to develop a detailed feasibility study, on behalf of a Council, to evaluate the technical and commercial viability of installing a carport solar PV array at one of their leisure centres. The key driver for the council for the development of this project is to build towards their pledge of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030, whilst doing so in a manner than is financially responsible.

The council were looking to adopt a structured and staged approach to identify the financial, energy, and carbon reduction impacts of such an asset before moving forward with the next steps associated with the installation of a solar carport array.

The approach to such a development is well received and aligns well with Ennovus’ existing structured process and Stage Two Technical Analysis.

Some of the key elements within Ennovus’ Stage One, Scope & Options, were compressed into the start of the feasibility study, as they helped to shape the project. For example, a review of buried services and asset plans helped to quickly identify the most suitable areas of the car park for the development.

Key Design Considerations

With every solar PV carport design there are many elements to consider, from the sizing of the array, to the civil foundations, to the electrical infrastructure, and to the mechanical installation. However, given the coastal location more emphasis needed to be placed on the carport structure to ensure system longevity. Additionally, the height and depth of the structures needed to be carefully balanced to adhere to prior approval planning, to allow continued access for busses and larger vehicles, to avoid lampposts, and to enable users to sensibly park and without obstruction to opening a car boot.

Ensuring System Longevity

The site chosen to install carport PV structures is coastal. This had several impacts on the design of the system:

• Any metal components, in particularly the steel structures themselves, require enhanced protective coatings to ensure their lifespan is protected in a C5-M environment.
• Any critical electrical components were to be housed within their own lockable IP65 cabinet to protect them from the corrosive salty environment.
• A heightened maintenance schedule was factored into the long term cash flow analysis due to the heavy presence of sea gulls and their… ‘impacts’ … when flying above the PV panels.

Carport Structure Height

One of the design criteria, set by Ennovus, was to ensure that designs could pass through the planning process under permitted development rights, saving the client time and money. To do so several criteria must be met under Class OA:

Despite competing design requirements, such as allowing coaches to navigate around the structures, Ennovus successfully delivered designs that met all specified criteria.

Recommended Solution

After going through an iterative process for the design and analysis of carport systems of different array sizes, locations within the carpark, inclination, carport structure variants, and tendering, the recommended solution was selected.

The proposed carport array design has a system capacity of 128 kWp, consisting of 235 solar panels, which is expected to generate in excess of 140,000 kWh/year. This volume of generation will reduce the council’s carbon footprint by almost 30 tonnes/year and offset the leisure centre’s electricity demand by ~22%.

Both a capital cost and cashflow, as well as a PPA solution were presented within the report. A funding mechanism is often a popular route to take, as it enables a council to commit to their net zero targets without needing the initial capital outlay, whilst reducing their operational spend through the energy savings, allowing investment into other areas.

Next Steps

After completing the system designs, Ennovus presented a comprehensive feasibility report to key stakeholders. The report outlined site conditions, design metrics, and funding options, alongside key project milestones and timelines. It also detailed pre-construction requirements, planning and grid processes, and future maintenance schedules. These findings were supported by financial evaluations and tailored revenue models, providing sufficient clarity for the client to determine their next steps.

The council are currently conducting an internal review of the feasibility report before deciding in which direction to take the project. Ennovus Solutions have continued to provide support, with an open dialogue with the council, both on this project and others.

“We had the pleasure of working with Ennovus, and we couldn’t be more impressed with their professionalism and expertise. From start to finish, David, James and Paul demonstrated a deep knowledge of [solar] carports, ensuring that every aspect of our project was handled with precision and care. They provided a fantastic service, addressing all our concerns with efficiency and clarity. Their commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction truly sets them apart. We highly recommend Ennovus to anyone looking for a knowledgeable and reliable partner”

Climate Change and Sustainability Manager