Aviva opens one of the UK’s largest solar and energy storage initiatives

Aviva, with support from the Scottish Government, has launched one of the UK’s largest combined solar carports and energy storage facilities at its Perth office. 

It covers 342 carpark spaces and provides 50 electric vehicle charging stations. This investment comes as YouGov research finds that 65% of people living in Scotland don’t think businesses are doing enough to help tackle climate change, but 64% would look more favourably on those businesses investing to prevent further climate change.  

Aviva’s facility will be powered by cutting-edge Tesla Powerpack technology and is expected to contribute to a combined annual carbon emission saving of nearly 400 tonnes, equivalent to powering over 500 homes’ electricity for one year or the equivalent of a small town*. It means Aviva’s Perth office can go off grid for five hours every day when the national grid is at its busiest, [using three quarters of the solar power generated]. The surplus energy will go to the battery for later use or exported to the grid.

Aviva employs approximately 2,000 people in Scotland, with around 1,000 people based in its Perth office, which hosts our property claims centre of excellence for both commercial and personal property.

This initiative, which will see climate change tackled at a local level and supports the Scottish Government’s Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme (LCITP) nationally, reinforces Aviva’s longstanding commitment to public-private collaboration and being a positive environmental and social influence. This investment represents an important milestone in the development of sustainable buildings and infrastructures in Scotland and the UK and supports the government’s electric vehicle (EV) incentive scheme. Aviva research found that 35% of Scottish people believed there is a lack of electric infrastructure in Scotland, though more than 2 in 5 drivers, who currently own a petrol/diesel car say they would be more likely to transition to electric vehicles with government or employer support.

The solar and energy storage project in Perth builds on Aviva’s commitment to tackle climate change right across its business. It was the first carbon neutral international insurer in 2006 and is a member of the United Nation’s Net Zero Asset Owner’s Alliance, which commits to net zero emissions in investments by 2050. 

Aviva has several environmental initiatives across its UK sites including the installation of a solar carport at its Norwich office, only using electricity certified by the carbon trust and onsite beehives.  

Nick Amin, Aviva Chief Operating Officer, said:

“It’s vital that businesses in all industries put words into action when it comes to tackling the climate emergency. That’s why we are taking strides to reduce our environmental impact and partner with leading technology specialists to help make that happen. The Perth solar and storage initiative is a great example of how Aviva is innovating to secure a sustainable energy supply and support the electric vehicle revolution.” 

David Skinn, Aviva Distribution Director based in Perth, said:

“Scotland is a country that has long been known as a pioneer in the energy sector, and so it is fitting that Aviva has built the UK’s leading solar and storage facility in the heart of Scotland. With the build up to COP26 gaining momentum, people in Scotland, and across the UK, expect more to be done in the fight against climate change, so we’re delighted to be playing our part alongside the Scottish Government to save and create energy.” 

Roseanna Cunningham, Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, said: 

“I welcome the launch of Aviva’s solar carport and energy storage facility in Perth. This ambitious project, which received £1.5 million support through the Scottish Government’s Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme, will significantly reduce the environmental impact and carbon emissions from Aviva’s Scottish Headquarters. 

“Aviva is providing an excellent exemplar for businesses across Scotland, as well as demonstrating innovation in the use of our vast renewable energy potential as we move towards an energy system that is consistent with net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045.”

How the technology works:

• The overall system design and installation was undertaken by RenEnergy, specialists in understanding energy management and integrating solar, solar carports, battery and EV charging infrastructure for businesses.
• The 1.8MWh energy storage system is underpinned by Tesla Powerpack technology which manages power flows between the solar cells, office buildings, grid and electric vehicle charges, enabling the Perth site to operate off grid for five hours per day during peak times.
• The installation is powered by 3,283 solar photovoltaic panels and supports electric vehicles charging bays that can charge 50 electric vehicles at once.
• This green technology generates 812,000kwh, producing enough electricity to power over 500 homes annually. Aviva will use 77% of the generated energy, with the surplus entering the battery for later use or exported to the grid. Its annual output will power an electric car for 2,249,240 miles (90 times around the world)*. 
• All the manufacturing for the project was completed in the UK, with embedded carbon for the project kept to a minimum using 100% recycled steel from the North of England and and more than 60% of the project’s construction and ongoing maintenance was and will be completed by Scottish workers.

_{*Source: Carbon Intelligence}

Watch this short film about the Solar carport and energy storage project and drone footage of the site: 

_{Research with You Gov:}

• _{Aviva and YouGov ran fieldwork of the Scottish population between 10th -12th November 2020}
• _{The survey was carried out online with a sample size of 1004 adults. The figures have been weighted and are representiave of all Scottish adults (aged 18+)}

-ENDS-

Media enquiries:

Heleana Greeves
Group External Communications, Aviva
heleana.greeves@aviva.com
+44 (0) 7392 138 791

Chris Sibbald
Managing Director, Finsbury
chris.sibbald@finsbury.com 
+44 (0) 7855 955 531