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Rooftop solar panels reflect the sun in Stoke on Trent, UK
Rooftop solar panels reflect the sun in Stoke on Trent, UK. Photograph: Darren Staples/Reuters
Rooftop solar panels reflect the sun in Stoke on Trent, UK. Photograph: Darren Staples/Reuters

'This building is its own power plant': your stories of renewables in the city

This article is more than 7 years old

From New York to Frankfurt, readers shared their experiences of renewable energy projects in cities around the world

Portsmouth

Portsmouth city council rooftop solar panels

Portsmouth city council rooftop solar panels

I was invited to take photos on the roof of Portsmouth city council. Most of the roof is covered in solar panels.

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San Francisco

SunPower solar installation at the Exploratorium children's museum in San Francisco

SunPower solar installation at the Exploratorium children's museum in San Francisco

Historical bay front solar installation powering 60% of the museums electrical needs.

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Frankfurt

Energy-plus-house: Living in a small power plant

Energy-plus-house: Living in a small power plant

This apartment building in Frankfurt/Germany is its own power plant. Solar panels on the roof and in the façade generate more than enough electricity for its residents. Tenants can track how much power the energy-plus-house is making through smart panels in each unit. They can also use a community fleet of E-cars powered with electricity generated by the house.

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London and the South East

Crossrail is incorporating ground source heat exchangers in its construction for future stations

Crossrail is incorporating ground source heat exchangers in its construction for future stations

Geothermal pipe installation at one of the Crossrail sites.

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Davis, California

UC Davis West Campus roof and car port solar.

UC Davis West Campus roof and car port solar.

How to power a university campus. SunPower solar carports and roof mounted panels.

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Bristol

Bristol Energy Cooperative's new solar park on the outskirts of Bristol

Bristol Energy Cooperative's new solar park on the outskirts of Bristol

Members of Bristol Energy Cooperative, and project partners, filming on their new 4.2MW solar park in Lawrence Weston, on the North West outskirts of Bristol near Avonmouth. The development was funded in part by local residents though shares. The project will provide a community benefit payment to local community development trust Ambition Lawrence Weston. The wind turbines in the background are existing commercial development.

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Winter Park, Florida

Launching Solar Co-ops throughout Florida

Launching Solar Co-ops throughout Florida

Volunteers are fanning out across Florida to launch neighborhood rooftop solar Co-ops to help homeowners harness volume discounts and start printing money with their roofs by deep discounts on rooftop solar. www.FLSUN.org

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New York

Quixotic Systems has provided Urban Health Plan a 37kW solar wall in the Bronx.

Quixotic Systems has provided Urban Health Plan a 37kW solar wall in the Bronx.

The vertical SunPower PV wall avoided designing around limited roof space in favor of the building’s south-facing four-story façade. The 37kW system is expected to perform best in the the winter — unlike most PV installations, which typically generate more power during the summer.

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Freiburg

Freiburg's Vauban neighbourhood: A sustainable district

Freiburg's Vauban neighbourhood: A sustainable district

Solar water and PV, passive housing, car free, and people-centered.

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Vancouver

Solar co-housing in Vancouver, Canada

Solar co-housing in Vancouver, Canada

This new residential development includes several solar arrays, EV charging, and efficient building techniques.

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Brighton and Hove

Anti-Seagull Netting for Rooftop Solar Array

Anti-Seagull Netting for Rooftop Solar Array

An unusual additon to a rooftop solar array - some netting to keep local seagulls, their chicks, and (most importantly) their poo off of our shiny new solar panels

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