Stagecoach Group has announced plans to utilise solar power throughout its UK Bus division.
The operator is driving forward an initiative to have solar panels installed at a number of its bus depots across the UK. Working with partners renewable energy company Visolaris and the Renewable Energy Investment (REI), solar panels have been fitted to Stagecoach’s Chesterfield depot and work is underway to install more at the company’s Daw Bank bus depot in Stockport.
It is anticipated that the project will be rolled out to other Stagecoach depots across the UK.
Virtually all of the locally generated electricity will be used by each site and will significantly reduce each depot’s electricity bills. Any spare electricity will also be sold back to the National Grid by partners Visolaris and REI.
Stagecoach Regional Director Sam Greer said: “This is a new and innovative project that we believe will, over time, help us to reduce our carbon footprint further as well as making financial savings.
“This is an example of how we can benefit from new technology at our existing sites to help minimise the impact of our operations on the environment and play our part in tackling the global challenge of climate change.”
Visolaris CEO Charles Hesketh said: “Visolaris are delighted to be working with Stagecoach Group to help meet their environmental targets over the coming years. Reducing electricity bills and cutting harmful CO2 emissions should be the objective of every company in the UK. Doing so without any capital outlay makes it all the more appealing.”
