West base a pilot for Army solar power farm
AWEST base will be one of the first that the British Army powers with a solar farm. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the photovoltaic facility at the Defence School of Transport (DST) in Leconfield, near Beverley, East Yorkshire, is the first of four pilot schemes which plan to increase renewable energy across its estate.
It will be followed shortly afterwards by the Duke of Gloucester Barracks in South Cerney, Gloucestershire.
The Yorkshire site will span approximately four hectares and support the Government’s commitment to meeting net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Around 80 further solar farms are hoped to be introduced across the Army estate in the next seven years.
On completion, the MoD said the first solar farm is predicted to supply the DST with a third of its electricity needs.
It is hoped the four pilot schemes will result in £1 million in efficiency savings and reduce emissions by 2,000 tCO2e (tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent) per year.
The cost savings will be reinvested in Army infrastructure, the MoD added.
Major General David Southall, director basing and infrastructure and the Army’s sustainability champion, said: “The Army remains wholly committed to play its part in meeting the UK’s commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
“To deliver this, we are working hard to reduce energy demand as well as increase ‘green’ supply across our estate. Project Prometheus is an exciting pilot which will showcase renewable energy generation across the Army estate.
“When operational, we will learn from our four pilot sites and we will scale up fast across the wider Army estate to help decarbonise the power we use.”
The Duke of Gloucester and the other two pilot schemes – Rock Barracks in Suffolk and Baker Barracks on Thorney Island in West Sussex – are scheduled for delivery by summer 2021, the MoD said.
Defence Procurement Minister Jeremy Quin said: “Project Prometheus is an example of how Defence is actioning its all-encompassing approach to reducing carbon emissions and increasing sustainability, announced last week.
“The Army, through Prometheus, is showing our commitment to positive green initiatives, driving impressive energy efficiency savings.”