Tate Modern gets solar makeover
The iconic art gallery’s 82kWp solar power system, provided by Solarcentury, will provide a proportion of the electricity needed to power Tate Modern's various galleries, meaning the building will produce power for the first time since 1981 when it housed the Bankside Power Station.
The museum's national and international programmes director, Judith Nesbitt, believes that installing a solar PV system is another small but important step in making the gallery as sustainable and efficient as possible.
“Together with our plans for heat recovery and natural ventilation in the new building, we are exploring a whole range of approaches to reducing energy use,” she said.
Solarcentury CEO, Frans van den Heuvel, states that providing solar to the Tate Modern is a perfect opportunity for the British firm to bring clean energy to the art world. “Electrifying this former power station with its own clean energy system also reflects the global shift currently underway towards cleaner energy sources,” said Van Den Heuvel.
“It’s encouraging that we’re seeing a wave of solar spreading through London as recognition grows for the benefits of solar, still the most popular clean technology among the British public.”
More than 70m people have visited Tate Modern since its opening in May 2000, making it the world’s most popular museum of modern art.
Its new green power system follows the National Gallery’s renewable energy solution, which became one of the first public buildings in the world to achieve 85 per cent energy savings on lighting by combining LED lighting with a system that automatically adjusts external roof blinds.
