York Minster, the world-famous Gothic cathedral at the heart of York, has reduced energy costs and emissions following the installation of a rooftop solar photovoltaic system designed to prioritise both efficiency and fire safety at the historic site.
Since commissioning, the 184-panel installation has generated more than 42,000 kWh of electricity in six months.
At peak output, the system has met more than 80% of the Minster’s electricity demand, delivering savings of almost £20,000 and offsetting around eight tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.
The project supports the Church of England’s target to reach net zero operation by 2030.
The Chapter of York, which oversees the Minster and its seven-hectare estate, sought a solution that would reduce operational emissions while managing risk in a building with a documented history of rooftop fires, including a major incident in 1984.
Solar design focused on heritage safety
The installation was delivered by Associated Clean Technologies, working with SolarEdge technology that was selected for its approach to panel-level control and electrical safety.
Power optimisers installed beneath each panel allow modules to operate independently, limiting the impact of shading from the Minster’s complex roof structure and maintaining overall system output.
Alex McCallion, Director of Works and Precinct for the Chapter of York, explains, “This is an incredibly important building – it’s the symbol of this great city, the largest Gothic cathedral north of the Alps – so it has huge international significance.
“However, it is also a building with an unfortunate history of fire. We chose SolarEdge technology primarily for peace of mind.
“One of the reassuring aspects is the significant reduction in risk. We worked very closely with our insurance company to reassure them that we were able to address the possible risk to the fabric of this beautiful building.”
Safety measures include panel-level voltage reduction when the system or grid is shut down, lowering the risk of electrical shock during maintenance or emergency response.
Connector-level temperature monitoring is also in place to detect abnormal heat build-up and prevent electrical faults.
The system is integrated with the Minster’s fire alarm infrastructure through a dedicated gateway, allowing the solar array to be shut down automatically or manually in an emergency to provide safe roof access for fire crews.
Nicola Newby, Operations Director at Associated Clean Technologies, comments, “We are a strong advocate of the technology, primarily because of its safety features.
“The support team is always available, which is important on complex installations such as this.”
The York Minster project forms part of the Chapter of York’s wider Neighbourhood Plan, which aims to decarbonise more than 50 buildings across the estate.
Combined, the estate’s solar installations now generate more than 120,000 kWh of electricity each year.
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