Siemens completes £2m solar energy investment at Goole Rail Village
The site’s carbon footprint is now significantly reduced following the installation of 1,700 solar panels, 40 air-source heat pumps, and 70 EV chargers at the 67-acre East Yorkshire site.
The £200m Rail Village opened in October.
The investment in solar panels covers almost 215,000 sq ft across the three manufacturing buildings on site, capable of generating up to 1MW of clean energy – enough to power the site and the equivalent of running 150 homes.
Green energy produced by the panels during the site’s non-production hours, such as during weekends, is exported back to the grid, while any additional energy required during peak times is exclusively from renewable sources.
The rail technology company has also invested £2m to install more than 40 air-source heat pumps to heat production facilities on site, which is on track to reduce its carbon output by 980t/yr (88%).
As for the EV chargers, Siemens is electrifying its fleet and has installed one charging point per 10 parking spaces on site.
The next steps for the Rail Village will be the construction of the £40m Bogie Assembly and Service Centre, due to be operational by the end of 2026.
In line with European Union targets, Siemens Mobility has set targets to reduce emissions in its operations by 55% by 2025, and 90% by 2030.
David Harris, Siemens Mobility construction project manager, said: “We’ve considered how best to minimise our carbon footprint at every stage, including throughout the development and construction phases.
“With the rail manufacturing facility now operational, we’re seeing the full benefits of building sustainability into the project from day one.”
Finbarr Dowling, Siemens Mobility director of localisation, said: “Our vision from the very outset was for the Goole Rail Village to be net zero in its operations by 2030, with this state-of-the-art facility playing a central part in our mission to
transform rail travel and transport in the UK.”
