Global real estate adviser Knight Frank has advised its client Tritax Big Box REIT on the installation of a 999.75kWp rooftop solar plant at its logistics warehouse at the Ash Industrial Estate, Flex Meadow in Harlow.
The building, which totals 276,213 sq ft, is operated by Brakes as a depot and logistics centre for their wholesale food network.
The project is expected to generate over 930,000kWh of electricity per year, the same energy required to power 321 households.
Knight Frank’s Energy, Sustainability and Natural Resources team estimates that the electricity generated from the solar panel installation will result in a reduction of 4,423 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions over the system’s 25 Year Lifetime, equal to planting 66,349 trees.
Switching to solar energy will reduce the building’s grid dependency, offsetting the total annual electricity use with its own low carbon supply at a significantly cheaper rate than grid supplied power given the continued rapid inflation in power prices globally.
Robert Blake, Senior Consultant, Energy, Sustainability and Natural Resources at Knight Frank said: “We’re thrilled to have advised our client on this transformative rooftop solar plant installation, saving significant amounts of carbon dioxide emissions, and providing power for the tenant at a rate considerably below standard tariffs and not subject to grid energy price fluctuations.”
Alan Somerville, Director of ESG at Tritax Group, added: “This is another successful renewable energy project which is part of our overall ESG programme. Working in partnership with our customers to deliver low carbon and low-cost energy is an important part of our strategy as we continue to deliver prime sustainable logistics buildings.”
