University of Sunderland planning major changes to buildings at several sites
Plans to install hundreds of solar panels across several sites at the University of Sunderland have been submitted to council development bosses.
Sunderland City Council’s planning department has received applications for solar installations at two key university sites totalling more than 850 solar panels.
The first site includes the university-managed St Peter’s Gate, an office hub providing space for businesses, and the adjacent Wearside View building.
Proposals for the two buildings include the “installation of [a] PV system comprised of 521 x 450 W panels with a total output of 234.45 kW.”
Meanwhile, a second application from the University of Sunderland is linked to Helen McArdle House which is part of the faculty of health sciences and wellbeing.
Plans for this building include a “PV system comprised of 332 x 450 W panels with a total output of 149.4 kWp.”
The planning applications are part of the University of Sunderland’s wider commitment to achieving “Net Zero Carbon” and follows other plans for solar panels on campus buildings in recent years, including several buildings at the St Peter’s campus.
A spokesman for the University of Sunderland added: “The university is committed to reducing its impact on the climate and achieving Net Zero Carbon for its buildings by 2040.
“The new roof-mounted solar panels will add to those already in place across university buildings, reducing carbon emissions and saving thousands of pounds every year.”
For more information on the solar panel planning applications, visit Sunderland City Council’s planning portal website and search reference 26/00330/PCZ and 26/00327/PCZ.