Centrica is set to support the government's commitment to meeting Net Zero Carbon Emissions by 2050, by installing defence's first photovoltaic solar farm at the British Army's Defence School of Transport (DST), Leconfield.

The solar array is the first of four pilot sites delivered as part of Project PROMETHEUS to increase renewable energy across the defence estate.

Spanning approximately four hectares, Centrica Business Solutions started construction of the 2.3MW solar farm earlier this year. Thirty employees are working on the project, installing 4,248 Trina Vertex panels, which is predicted to supply the DST with one third of its electricity needs.

Together, the four pilot sites will result in £1 million in efficiency savings and reduce emissions by 2,000 tCO2e (tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent) per year. These cost savings will be reinvested into Army infrastructure and help to reach the Army's ambition of Net Zero by 2045.

Major General David Southall, Director Basing and Infrastructure and the Army's Sustainability Champion said:

"The Army remains wholly committed to play its part in meeting the UK's commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. To deliver this, we are working hard to reduce energy demand as well as increase ‘green' supply across our estate.

"Project PROMETHEUS is an exciting pilot which will showcase renewable energy generation across the Army estate. When operational, we will learn from our four pilot sites and scale-up fast across the wider Army estate to help decarbonise the power we use."

Defence Procurement Minister Jeremy Quin said:

"Project Prometheus is an example of how Defence is actioning its all-encompassing approach to reducing carbon emissions and increasing sustainability, announced last week.

"The Army, through Prometheus, is showing our commitment to positive green initiatives, driving impressive energy efficiency savings."

Greg McKenna, Managing Director of Centrica Business Solutions, said:

"We are proud to support the Army launch what is an ambitious sustainability programme. It is incumbent on organisations big and small to show leadership in meeting net zero, and the Army is doing just that. Large scale solar projects like this can create significant cost and carbon savings, helping customers accelerate their transition to a sustainable future."

The three further pilots at Duke of Gloucester Barracks, South Cerney, Gloucestershire; Rock Barracks, Suffolk; and Baker Barracks on Thorney Island, Sussex, are scheduled for delivery by Summer 2021, with the aspiration to deliver a further circa 80 solar farms across the army estate in the next seven years.