The UK’s leading science and technology park has just installed four Tesla Powerpacks outside its central building as part of its long-term energy strategy. The installation also includes two charge points for electric vehicles.
Manchester Science Partnerships (MSP) operates a business community of over 120 innovative science and technology businesses. Its Manchester Science Park is close to several universities, providing it with links to academia as well as the public and private sectors and the local community. MSP is also committed to sustainability and “addressing the world’s environmental challenges head on”.
The ‘heart’ powered by Powerpack
MSP’s most recent addition is the Bright Building, which it describes as the park’s ‘heart’.
The building serves as the park’s headquarters while also offering network, community and social spaces. The Tesla Powerpacks, along with an inverter, are installed outside Bright Building as part of MSP’s advanced energy strategy.
The ability of a Tesla battery to kick-in with backup power within less than a second was a particular drawcard for the park. This compares favourably to the time it takes for generators to take over, which can be as much as half an hour.
Purpose of Tesla Powerpacks
The big battery setup will serve several purposes:
- Reduce the park’s carbon footprint.
- Mitigate against shifting costs.
- Provide MSP with the ability to store energy from renewable sources such as wind and/or solar power.
- Provide improved energy security and continuity for the businesses the park accommodates.
MSP secured ‘green funding’ from Lloyds Bank for the project, which involves fulfilling a number of ‘green covenants’. Under the agreement, the park must invest in sustainable improvements and increase its energy use from renewable sources by an additional 10 per cent.
The project is the first of its kind in the UK. It could well light the way for other similar facilities to follow suit. The setup is also scalable, with the ability to accommodate up to 20 Powerpacks in total if required.
MSP’s managing director said Bright Building could be an “energy island” within 12 months. This means it would be totally self-sufficient in terms of energy production.
