Planet

World's largest solar bridge completed in London

Work has finished on what is now the largest solar bridge in the world. Blackfriars Bridge, part of Blackfriars Station in London, has been fitted with 4,400 photovoltaic panels, which are expected to reduce the station's CO2 emissions by an estimated 511 tonnes (563 tons) per year. Work began in spring 2009 and the station was operationally complete in time. The full refurbishment of the station is now also complete.

The installation of the solar panels was part of the wider redevelopment of Blackfriars Station, which includes a new entrance on the south bank of the River Thames, four new platforms and a improved Underground station. The station is a key part of the Thameslink Programme, which aims to increase train capacity on one of Europe's busiest stretches of railway running from north to south through central London. The array of Panasonic 250 Wp panels is the largest solar array on a bridge in the world. The panels are fixed and south-facing.