The UK-based firm PolySolar recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its first solar photovoltaic system outfitted bus stop in the UK — a 2.8 kilowatt bus stop located in Canary Wharf, in London.
The new solar photovoltaic (PV) bus stop — equipped with Polysolar’s transparent solar-PV glazing, which reportedly works well even in low-light — is expected to generate up to 2,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity a year. The project represents the first such solar electricity generating bus stop in the UK.
The electricity generated by the installation will be used to power infrastructure and smart signs in the area, reportedly.
“The solar bus shelter provides not just demonstration of the functionality, performance and aesthetics of our PV glass but represents an important application innovation,” stated Founder and CEO of Polysolar Hamish Watson. “Using our solar PV glazing across London’s transport sector, in things like bus shelters, EV charging canopies, walkways and bike parks, could have a significant impact on the city’s emissions, without compromising its environment, architecture or budgets.”
The Canary Wharf Group commissioned the project, and it was fabricated by the hard-landscaping and street furniture supplier Marshalls.
As one can probably surmise from the Polysolar CEO’s quote above, the company is banking heavily on the future deployment of its technology in/on public infrastructure projects. If the UK government pursues such an approach… contracts for solar PV bus stops, pedestrian walkways, etc, could of course be potentially quite lucrative for those that secure them. And there are aren’t many competitions out there currently for firms such as Polysolar.
Image Credit: PolySolar