Summary
We delivered a 354.24 kWp ground mounted solar PV system with battery energy storage for Brymbo Heritage Trust, helping power the new Brymbo Heritage Visitor Centre as part of the regeneration of the historic Brymbo Steelworks site. Designed with future expansion in mind, the modular system supports the Trust’s long-term sustainability ambitions while preserving the site’s unique environmental constraints.
The Challenge
Brymbo Heritage Trust wanted to reduce the long-term operating costs and carbon footprint of its new visitor centre while supporting the wider regeneration of the former Brymbo Steelworks. The proposed solar array location sat on a former colliery spoil heap classified as contaminated land, meaning the ground could not be disturbed during construction.
This ruled out traditional piled foundations and required us to develop a solution that protected the site while supporting future expansion. A further challenge was the 450-metre cable route needed to connect the solar array to the visitor centre.
Our Solution
We designed, installed and commissioned the complete solar PV and battery energy storage system. As the visitor centre was a new development with no historical energy data, we modelled the site’s future electricity demand and assessed multiple system configurations before recommending a modular solution that allows additional solar and battery capacity to be added as the site develops.
To protect the contaminated ground, we installed the array using ballasted foundations rather than piling, while carrying out a detailed topographical survey to design the 450-metre cable route.
We also integrated a DC-coupled battery energy storage system to capture surplus solar generation and maximise onsite consumption of renewable electricity.
The Result
We delivered the project within the client’s funding programme, completing installation between March and May before commissioning the system in June. The finished installation provides Brymbo Heritage Trust with a flexible renewable energy asset that supports the visitor centre today while allowing future expansion as the wider regeneration project progresses.
The system is forecast to generate 363,665 kWh of renewable electricity each year, save 75,377 kg of CO₂ during its first year of operation, and achieve a projected payback of 2 years and 11 months, demonstrating how carefully engineered renewable energy solutions can successfully unlock challenging brownfield sites.