Fire station to be powered by sun

Hoping for sunshine...firefighters at Richmond station

A fire station in south-west London is leading the way by becoming the first in the UK to be powered by the sun.

Up to 80 solar panels on the roof of Richmond station will provide 11,000kw hours of electricity a year - enough to run 55 televisions for a year.

This will meet around three-quarters of its power needs and cut carbon emissions by about a third.

Additional electricity will be bought from a renewable energy supplier, making the station's supply 100% green.

More electricity will be generated on sunny days but even on an overcast day some will be produced, and any excess can be sold back to energy suppliers.

Wind turbines

London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority chair Val Shawcross said: "This exciting scheme is part of a much wider strategy by the authority to increase the use of sustainable energy across its estate.

"Whatever the causes, there is no doubt that severe weather and high energy costs are likely in the future. And we are committed to meeting the Mayor's environmental objectives for London."

Ms Shawcross added that the authority's first solar thermal and wind turbine-powered stations will be unveiled next year.

Work on the roof, which is part-funded by a £65,000 Department of Trade and Industry grant, took three months to complete.

The brigade has also replaced 107 of its engines with Mercedes vehicles to reduce exhaust pollutants.