ALMOST 900 solar panels have been put on the roof of the BIC in one of the region’s largest installations of its kind.

Empower Energy Ltd designed the solar photo voltaic (PV) system, designed to save more than 140 tonnes of CO2 a year – equivalent to planting 57,000 trees a year.

It is expected to generate up to 235,000KWh of electricity annually for the venue and supply the National Grid.

Ryan McShea, managing director of Empower Energy, said: “This was a challenging installation – we had to crane nearly 900 solar PV panels over buildings to the top floor of the car park and transfer to the rooftop.

“The system took three weeks to install and the venue operated as usual.”

The venue already has a solar thermal system, installed in partnership with Bournemouth Borough Council, for hot water.

Peter Portnoi, head of facilities management for the venue’s operator, BH Live, said: “Energy-saving initiatives are cutting energy dependence, costs and CO2 emissions using proven, state-of-the-art technology in energy production, lighting, heating and air conditioning.“To complement the recent solar installation, a sensory lighting scheme in the Bournemouth International Centre’s multi-storey car park has saved 134,378 kWh of power and reduced carbon emissions by 45 per centin its first year. A combined heat and power installation at Littledown Centre, one of the UK’s busiest leisure centres, is also expected to save a further 376 tonnes of CO2 – equivalent to taking 79 cars off the road each year.”