412 kWp Salix-Financed Carport at Russell Group University
A Russell Group university in the West Midlands installed a 412 kWp solar carport over a 320-bay staff and visitor car park. Financed via Salix Recycling Fund (0% interest, 7 years), the project repays itself entirely through energy savings. The carport feeds a live data dashboard embedded into the university's BSc Environmental Engineering curriculum.
Project at a glance
Challenge
The car park sits on the edge of a 1960s-listed campus precinct — the carport had to integrate with existing architectural language while delivering a 25+ year asset. The university's BMS team requested integration with their existing Schneider Electric energy management platform for real-time monitoring. Salix funding required strict carbon abatement modelling proving the project would recover its capex from energy savings within the loan term.
Our Approach
- Salix-compliant pre-feasibility carbon abatement model (PAS 2080 methodology)
- Heritage-aware architectural design with Corten steel column finishes
- API integration with university's Schneider EcoStruxure platform for live monitoring
- Live data dashboard embedded into student curriculum (URL-accessible to all enrolled students)
- JA Solar DeepBlue 4.0 580W bifacial panels with SMA Sunny Tripower 100kW inverters
- 24 × 22 kW EV chargers, split between staff (long-dwell) and visitor (short-dwell) zones
Outcomes
"Salix funding turned a 4.5-year payback project into a year-one positive cashflow. The student curriculum integration was the unexpected win — our applied engineering students now study a live UK renewable energy asset they walk past every day."
— Pro Vice-Chancellor (Sustainability), Russell Group University
Spec a Similar Project
Free feasibility, indicative ROI within 5 working days.