South Wales Fire and Rescue Service draw on local services to make climate-cutting plans a reality
‘Our vision to drive local economy and protect landscape for future generations’
Giant steps towards decarbonisation are being taken by South Wales Fire and Rescue Service - one of the largest fire and rescue organisations in the UK.
Serving a community of 650,000 households, the service is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and investing in local solutions to achieve its climate goals.
As part of its Carbon Reduction Plan 2020 – 2023, the service has set an ambitious target to cut carbon 2018/19 emissions by 50% by 2030. To reach this goal, it has focused on enhancing the sustainability of its properties, starting with identifying and upgrading its most carbon-intensive sites.
This project, supported by £87,000 in funding from The Wales Funding Programme, delivered by our teams at Salix, involves placing solar panels on the roof of the Barry Emergency Service Station appliance bay where the fire engines are housed.
The Wales Funding Programme is a Welsh Government initiative designed to support projects that drive economic, social, and environmental benefits across the country.
Service building and maintenance manager Shane Evans, said: “The main motivations for this project were the financial savings and carbon reduction.
“The financial benefits are crucial as they provide security and support jobs, while the carbon reduction is driven by the goal of protecting Wales’s landscape for future generations.
“I often think about my own young children and what projects like these mean for securing a better future. It’s essential that we all buy into this vision to achieve our goals.”
When establishing how best to deliver the project, the service drew on the experience of fellow public sector bodies, including Gwent Police, who worked with local contractors with proven experience in successful delivery of similar schemes across its estate. Welsh Ambulance Service and Local Authorities provided support on choosing the best system.
Shane added: “It matters to us that we support local contractors and specialists. They have generations of excellence in their craft.”
Contractors liaised with station managers when introducing the solar panels, with both parties equally motivated to see the changes take place.
Shane said: “The staff in the station were very happy to have the solar project put in place – they have the same goals and aspiration to reduce our carbon footprint.”
To track the generation of the solar it uses Solar Edge Monitoring Platform which provides data that enables staff to have a clearer image of its efficiency as a reference point for future projects.
The installation is expected to save approximately 7.83 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.
Shane Evans is keen to emphasise the broader impact of the project.
He said: “Our efforts contribute to protecting the environment for future generations. It’s important that everyone in the organisation feels they are part of this positive change, and we want our communities to share in this journey.”
This initiative marks the beginning of a series of sustainability efforts, with additional smaller-scale solar projects already underway and two more currently in construction.
The implementation of the solar panels was designed to ensure minimal disruption to station operations. Staff at the station expressed their satisfaction with the upgrade, noting that it aligns with their shared goals of reducing the carbon footprint.
They believe that effective communication has been a cornerstone of the project’s success.
Keeping all stakeholders informed and up to date throughout the process has been crucial in ensuring smooth execution and securing enthusiastic support from staff. Also, by minimising disruption and actively engaging with the team, the project has demonstrated the value of transparency and collaboration in achieving sustainability objectives.
Looking ahead, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service is planning the construction of a new site in Pontypool, which aims to become the first net-zero fire station in Wales.
Overall, Shane and his team believe the initiative underscores the service's commitment to environmental stewardship and community engagement.
