An ambitious plan to transform a city car park into a solar power hub has secured £940,000 in funding from the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 programme, a fund dedicated to pioneering research and innovation. This initiative marks a significant step forward in Glasgow’s efforts to become a leader in sustainable urban development.
The award will fund the construction of a vast canopy of solar panels above the council-owned Duke Street car park, which currently includes ten electric vehicle (EV) charging points. This innovative project aims to power the car park itself while also contributing to a broader sustainable energy network in the area. The installation is expected to cover the equivalent of more than 130 parking spaces, making it one of the largest solar car park projects in the UK.
In addition to the solar panels, the funding will support the installation of a 500-kilowatt battery storage system and a sophisticated energy controller. This technology will allow the car park to store excess energy generated by the panels and share it within the local district, creating a more resilient and efficient energy network. The battery system will also help balance supply and demand, particularly during peak usage times.
The Duke Street car park scheme is part of a larger initiative to develop a sustainable energy district along George Street and Duke Street. This collaborative effort involves key organisations such as Tennent’s Brewery, the University of Strathclyde, Scottish Power, Siemens, Transport Scotland, Wheatley Group, and Glasgow City Council. Together, they aim to create a model for urban sustainability that can be replicated in other cities.
Further plans include the installation of up to seven intelligent LED lighting columns in the city centre, which will double as EV charging points. These columns will use smart technology to optimise energy use and reduce emissions, contributing to Glasgow’s broader carbon reduction goals.
In the longer term, excess energy generated by the solar panels could be transferred to social housing in the neighbouring Drygate area. A smaller battery system is also being proposed for the flats, which would store energy from the National Grid during off-peak times when electricity is cheaper. This approach could help reduce energy costs for residents and tackle fuel poverty, a persistent issue in many urban areas.
Councillor Anna Richardson, Glasgow City Council’s City Convener for Sustainability and Carbon Reduction, praised the project as a key part of the emerging ‘smart street’ along the George Street-Duke Street corridor. She said: “This is an exciting and dynamic project that can take Glasgow closer to our goal of becoming the most sustainable city in Europe. Horizon 2020 funding is only ever awarded for projects that can demonstrate innovation that has the potential to be picked up and used elsewhere.”
She added: “We hope the Duke Street scheme will eventually be replicated on car parks all across the city, but we also hope that other cities across Europe can learn from what’s happening in Glasgow. Developing robust relationships between all the organisations involved will be the key to the success of this project. Sustainable energy districts have the potential to transform how we power Glasgow.”
The Glasgow consortium will receive over €4 million from the EU to develop a range of sustainable energy measures within the ‘smart street’ corridor. This project is part of a wider European initiative called RUGGEDISED (Rotterdam, Umea & Glasgow: Generating Exemplar Demonstrations in Sustainable Energy Deployment), which also includes Rotterdam in the Netherlands and Umea in Sweden. The collaboration aims to share best practices and develop scalable solutions for urban sustainability.
Once the car park’s energy system is operational, it will undergo two years of monitoring and evaluation to assess its effectiveness and identify lessons for future projects. Other initiatives within the Glasgow programme include exploring the feasibility of linking the City Chambers to the University of Strathclyde’s district heating system and using excess energy from Tennent’s Brewery to meet the heating needs of the Drygate flats.
This project represents a forward-thinking approach to urban energy management, combining innovative technology with community-focused solutions. By creating a localised energy network, Glasgow is setting an example for how cities can reduce their carbon footprint, tackle fuel poverty, and build a more sustainable future. For more information on the Horizon 2020 programme, visit the European Commission’s official site.
