London’s City Hall, home to the Greater London Authority, has been granted planning permission to install a system of photovoltaic solar panels which will generate ‘green’ energy.
The system, which required planning approval by Southwark Council, has been specially designed to compliment the rounded shape of the building and is capable of generating 3.1million kWh of renewable electricity over its lifetime.
Funding for the work will come from the Mayor’s London Climate Change Agency with additional funding being provided by the Department of Trade and Industry Major Photovoltaic Demonstration Programme.
Announcing the initiative Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, said “as City Hall is now one of London’s most recognisable landmarks it is right that we take a lead in cutting CO2 emissions”.
Mr Livingstone also said he hoped “other agencies and firms will now start to copy our lead and install solar panels on their own buildings.”