Array will help power filtration pumps in unheated, open-air swimming pool in London’s Hampstead Heath.
Installation has been completed of 163 solar panels on the roof of a poplar open-air lido in north London. The new panels, which had been installed on the main Grade II-listed building, add to an earlier set of panels installed in 2018.
Photo courtesy of City of London Corporation
Parliament Hill Lido opened in 1938, and now attracts almost 300,000 visitors a year. It’s set with Hampstead Heath, home to 800 species of flora and fauna designated a Site of Metropolitan Importance of Nature Conservation.
The new solar panels are Cradle to Cradle (C2C) certified under the initially recognised standard for the circular economy, ensuring a highly sustainable supply chain and long product lifespan.
will help power water filtration pumps, reducing the lido’s operational energy costs and cutting annual carbon emissions by more than 11.5 tonnes – the equivalent of powering 15 average-sized homes for a year.
The lido, and surrounding Hampstead Heath, are managed as a registered charity by the City of London Corporation, which aims to cut carbon emissions on its sites as part of a wider climate action strategy. This strategy commits the organisation to achieving net zero carbon emissions in its own operations by 2027, and across its full value chain and the Square Mile by 2040 – a decade ahead of national targets.
Chris Hayward, Policy Chairman at the City of London Corporation, says: ‘Our climate action strategy stretches far beyond the Square Mile. With 11,000 acres of open space under our stewardship, we’re uniquely placed to help drive environmental change right across London. This installation shows how we’re making our strategy a reality – cutting carbon, reducing energy costs, and delivering long-term sustainability for the benefit of all Londoners.
‘The Lido is an iconic London landmark, and these solar panels will help future-proof it for generations to come, while preserving its historic character.’
Alderman Gregory Jones KC, Chair of the City of London Corporation’s Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park Committee, adds: ‘It won’t just be visitors who’ll be soaking up the sun in the future. This installation shows our determination to manage the Heath sustainably and sensitively, so it continues to meet the needs of users while tackling the urgent challenge of climate change.
‘I’d particularly like to thank the whole team responsible for delivering this great project, demonstrating that renewable energy production can be secured sympathetically on historically sensitive buildings.’
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