Exeter solar car parks in running for national award

Two Exeter City Council solar carports have been recognized by independent industry experts this month, who have shortlisted them for a national Business Green Leaders Award.

Designed and installed by Exeter company SunGift Solar in September last year, the solar carports – on the top decks of John Lewis and Mary Arches carparks – have been recognized as an example to other local authorities across the country.

“Being shortlisted for a Business Green Leaders Award is a tremendous honour, because it covers companies in all environmental industries,” said Gabriel Wondrausch, director of strategy at SunGift Solar.  “SunGift has always been at the forefront of UK solar development – so it’s great news that our latest venture has been recognized by independent industry experts.”

The solar carports are the UK’s first solar carport systems on the top decks of multi-storey car parks.  They’ve been so highly-acclaimed in breaking new ground for the solar industry that the project also recently won the Innovation Award at the Western Morning News Business Awards and the Most Sustainable Public Sector Project at the Public Sector Sustainability Awards.

Gabriel added: “SunGift’s ethos is to provide the very best solution for every project we undertake, so we are constantly striving to find innovative methods that use the most advanced and appropriate technologies.  The carports are a perfect example of and it’s an honour to be recognized for the work we continue to do in pushing forward the boundaries of solar PV systems. We look forward to finding many more innovative solutions for our customers in the future.

One of the distinct attractions of the solar carports is that they are not only perfectly placed for making the most of the sun’s free energy, but also they provide an attractive parking option while generating increased use and revenue for parking services.

The Business Green news follows more recent success for SunGift, which – in November’s South West Green Energy Awards – became the first company to be named Renewable Energy Installer of the Year for a third time.

The annual Business Green Leaders Awards – organized by Business Green Magazine – celebrate the industry’s most exciting and innovative achievements from the past 12 months.  SunGift will find out if they have won the overall national award at an awards ceremony – featuring 600 leading green business executives – on Wednesday 6 July at the Brewery in London.