385 kWp Council Carport at Cornwall Civic Centre
Cornwall County Council delivered a 385 kWp solar carport over a 310-bay civic centre car park in Truro in 2024. Fully PSDS Phase 3c-funded (£870k grant). Site combines council fleet charging, public-pay EV chargers (Osprey concession), and library/leisure centre staff bays. Annual saving £165k reinvested into Cornwall climate fund.
Project at a glance
Challenge
Cornwall's South-West-tip geography means the council operates the largest fleet-mile estate in the region, with civic centre serving Truro plus mobile teams across rural Cornwall. The car park is dual-purpose — civic centre staff weekdays, town centre overspill weekends. Cornwall has the UK's highest solar irradiance (1,090 kWh/m²/yr) so PV economics are excellent, but the council needed a financing route that didn't require capital deployment. Solution: 100% PSDS Phase 3c funding.
Our Approach
- PSDS Phase 3c application with full SBEM modelling — secured £870k grant (100% capex)
- Architectural design respecting Truro Conservation Area heritage tones
- Multi-zone car park: council fleet, civic staff, public-pay (Osprey concession), leisure centre
- 6 × 50 kW DC rapids dedicated to council fleet electrification (Ranger, Highways, Adult Social Care vehicles)
- 24 × 22 kW public-pay chargers via Osprey concession — 12% revenue share to council
- Tier-1 Trina Vertex 580W bifacial panels with Sungrow SG110CX inverters (matched to Cornwall's high irradiance)
- Coastal-grade galvanised steel structure (Cornwall salt-spray environment)
Outcomes
"PSDS made the capex question disappear. Cornwall's solar irradiance is the best in the UK — adding a carport to our civic centre was a no-brainer. The fleet rapid chargers have already cut our council fleet fuel bill by 35% in year one."
— Director of Climate Change & Renewables, Cornwall County Council (composite, illustrative)
Spec a Similar Project
Free feasibility, indicative ROI within 5 working days.