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Client
University of Nottingham
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Main Contractor
Morgan Sindall
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Sector
Education
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Technology
Solar PV and BIPV
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System size
230.91kWp
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No. of PV Modules
688
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Estimated annual output
203,018kWh
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Annual carbon savings
119,495kg
Client
The University of Nottingham, established in 1881, is a leading public research university located in Nottingham, England. It was granted a royal charter in 1948, solidifying its status as a university, and is now a globally recognised institution, renowned for its commitment to innovation and excellence in education and research.
Located on the University of Nottingham’s award-winning Innovation Park, this carbon neutral laboratory offers state-of-the-art facilities for chemistry research. The building spans 4,500 square metres across two floors. In addition to laboratory space for around 100 researchers, it features dedicated instrument rooms, a teaching laboratory for advanced undergraduate classes, and areas for various outreach activities.
The University’s focus on sustainability is reflected in the building itself, which incorporates cutting-edge technologies to achieve carbon neutrality over its lifetime. The structure embraces renewable technologies, including photovoltaic panels integrated into the roof to generate an estimated 200,000 kWh of energy annually, offsetting over 100 tonnes of carbon per year. This represents a 70% reduction in embodied carbon compared to a conventional new-build laboratory.
Project
The £15.8m GSK Carbon Neutral Laboratory for Sustainable Chemistry at the University of Nottingham was supported by a £12m fund from GSK. The building is not only designed to offset the carbon emissions from construction within the next 25 years, but also utilises water reduction and heat-capturing technologies to deliver an array of additional environmental benefits.
Chemical laboratories are typically highly energy-intensive, with many operating 24 hours a day to maintain the precise temperature control needed for the manufacture and storage of chemicals. To address this, Morgan Sindall partnered with Solarsense to design and install a solar PV system aimed at reducing the facility’s operating costs and carbon emissions. The award-winning system features 666 traditional roof-mounted solar panels, along with 22 bespoke building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) in the form of semi-transparent glass roof lights. This design integrates seamlessly with a biodiesel combined heat and power (CHP) generator, and any surplus energy is fed to the neighbouring Sir Colin Campbell building, which shares the same energy supply circuit.
The building is expected to deliver power savings of more than 60% and utilise just 15% of the heat required by a conventional building design. It has been awarded the highest levels of green building certifications: BREEAM Outstanding and LEED Platinum.
SERVICES PROVIDED
- Detailed technical design (solar PV system)
- Full supply, installation, commissioning and testing
- Full handover including MCS registration, G99 grid connection, operation and maintenance pack
AWARD
Winner: Best UK Energy Project
British Renewable Energy Awards
