London’s largest solar array which is being installed on the top of Blackfriars station is half way to being completed.

Blackfriars station is being redeveloped by Network Rail and as part of this redevelopment has included a solar array on top of the station.

The station is being rebuilt on top of Blackfriars Railway Bridge to allow longer and more frequent trains and provide more room for passengers. . The solar array will be made up of 4,400 modules and should be able to generate 50% of the station’s electricity needs.

Not only will the solar panels help to reduce business electricity costs but they will also help to cut carbon emissions by around 500 tonnes a year.

Senior Network Rail Programme Manager for Blackfriars, Paul Byrne, said “We’ve rebuilt Blackfriars on a 125 year old rail bridge, creating a 21st century, solar-powered station on Victorian foundations. Blackfriars’ iconic location spanning the River Thames makes it a showcase for the potential of solar power, and an important benchmark for Network Rail as we look to make best use of sustainable technology on the rail network”.

The solar panel installation should be completed later in 2012 and the CEO of Solarcentury, Frans van den Heuvel, said “Blackfriars will be one of the World’s great solar power installations.  Architecturally challenging, the project demonstrates just what is possible with this versatile technology in dense urban areas.  We’ve been working amongst one of the most complex build programmes in the country, at height, over water and live train lines”.