In autumn 2017, CCC worked with Bouygues Energies & services to design, develop and deliver a smart Energy Grid in St Ives Car Park – which will transform a Park & Ride site in Cambridgeshire into a renewable energy generator. The project seeks to overcome challenges that include grid capacity constraints, new business models for financing complex energy projects, increasing the deployment of renewable energy and storage systems, as well as support the transition to electric vehicles.

Our solution

Our proposal comprises a 1MW solar car port system, in which solar arrays are affixed to a structure above the parking spaces, allowing cars to park beneath. The power generated by the solar is either stored in a battery system and used on site, or sold to local businesses via a smart grid solution. The project also includes next-generation electric vehicle chargers, ultra-efficient LED lighting and automatic controls, as well as advanced metering infrastructure.

Our designers have successfully overcome several technical challenges associated with this specific site. Planning permission was granted for the project in July 2017.

The pilot project, which is an amalgamation of innovative and novel technologies, will be three times larger than the largest operational solar carport in the country. Following successful completion, we intend to roll the solution out to sites around the county.

Client Benefits

• Multiple long-term revenue streams
• Significant carbon reductions
• Supporting local economic growth
• Benefitting the local community
• Leading the way to zero carbon
• Underpinned by long-term energy performance contract

Having recently been reappointed by Cambridgeshire County Council via a competitive tendering process, Bouygues Energies & Services is looking forward to developing further innovative schemes like this with Cambridgeshire County Council.

About RE:FIT

The Re:fit framework is co-owned by Local Partnerships and the Greater London Authority. The robust energy performance contracting approach provides the opportunity to reduce carbon emissions, achieve substantial guaranteed energy savings, and cut costs through energy efficiency and energy generation measures.

Local Partnerships is owned by HM Treasury, Welsh Government and the Local Government Association. Local Partnerships provide support to public sector organisations outside London to implement Re:fit schemes across selected premises and sites. Local Partnerships have provided commercial, technical and legal support to Cambridgeshire throughout the development of this project.