Denmark Hill is Europe’s first carbon positive station
RAIL Minister Chris HeatonHarris has officially opened the upgraded station at Denmark Hill, south east London, which is the first station in Europe to be carbon positive, producing more energy that it consumes. At a ceremony, local resident, writer, broadcaster and campaigner Sandi Toksvig, as well as representatives from Govia Thameslink Railway and the Kings College and Maudsley NHS hospitals joined Mr Heaton-Harris.
Use of a new type of PV film (photovoltaic) on the roof of the station as opposed to traditional PV panels, permits power over and above that required by the station to be fed into the national grid.
The station upgrades have cost £7.5m and include extended platform canopies, more comfortable waiting facilities, better lighting, a brand new 85-space cycle hub and some intriguing public art.
The station, which serves two major hospitals – Kings College and the Maudsley – also has the addition of a second entrance on Windsor Walk, cutting about 200m off the everyday journeys of up to 15,000 staff and patients. The listed wall on Windsor Walk has been rebuilt to its original design complete with heritage gates partly funded by The Railway Heritage Trust.