Reading International Business Park – Solar Canopies Powering a Sustainable Campus

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Overview:

Reading International Business Park, also known as Reading Campus, has taken a major step towards decarbonisation by installing Solar Canopy Structures.

The project integrates 1,200 PV panels across 10 bespoke Solar Canopy Structures, delivering 518 kWp of clean energy generation.

By producing around 500,000 kWh annually, the system generates enough electricity to power approximately 140 households while cutting carbon emissions by around 130 tonnes each year (at the time of recording).

Covering 140 parking bays, the canopies showcase how large-scale commercial campuses can blend functionality, sustainability, and design.

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Client Objectives:

The project sought to create a forward-looking energy solution that would:

• Generate significant on-site renewable energy
• Deliver a large-scale solar canopy solution across multiple car park structures
• Overcome complex site conditions such as underground utilities and high-speed communication cabling
• Provide a scalable model for corporate campuses and business parks

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Innovative Solution: Tailored Canopy Design

SIG Building Solutions were brought in to make the ambitious project viable through design innovation and value engineering. Key measures included:

• Redesigning canopy layouts to suit the challenging site constraints
• Reinforcing the Single Mono structures to carry four PV panels in portrait, increasing system capacity without expanding footprint
• Blending Single Mono Incline, Decline, and Double Mono structures to maximise energy yield and space coverage
• Ensuring aesthetic consistency and architectural integration across 10 structures covering 140 bays

This combination of flexibility and engineering innovation allowed the project to proceed despite the significant underground service restrictions.

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Energy System Integration:

The installation delivered a robust clean energy system comprising:

• 1,200 PV panels across 10 canopies
• 518 kWp of installed capacity
• Equivalent to powering around 140 UK homes every year

The system feeds directly into the site’s infrastructure, offsetting energy demand and strengthening the business park’s sustainability credentials.

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Performance & Benefits:

• CO₂ reduction: ~130 tonnes saved annually
• Energy generation: 500,000 kWh produced each year
• Capacity: Enough clean electricity to power c.140 households annually
• Smart engineering: Overcame complex underground services without compromising layout or delivery

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Conclusion:

The Reading International Business Park project demonstrates how commercial campuses can turn underused car park space into a renewable energy powerhouse.

By generating half a million kilowatt-hours annually and saving 130 tonnes of CO₂, the 10-structure canopy system proves that sustainability can be engineered into even the most challenging sites. The project sets a strong precedent for future business park developments, balancing cost, efficiency, and environmental impact.

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