Churchill Square receives £5k Green Grant

At Capital Space, our solar arrays have quickly become the crown jewel in our ongoing commitment to sustainability, net zero and the environment, and we are immensely proud of all the work we’ve done so far. However, when we noticed that some arrays were being impeded by trees, we knew something needed to be done. A recent grant from Tunbridge and Malling Borough Council will help set our sustainability initiatives back on track… 

What have we done?

As a small business owner or an ambitious entrepreneur, you already know that maximising efficiency is the key to sustainable business growth. At Churchill Square Business Centre, located in Kings Hill, we apply that exact same logic to our commercial infrastructure. To ensure our customer base enjoys highly productive and environmentally friendly workspaces, we are launching an extensive upgrade to our solar power infrastructure.  

The panels have been installed for almost ten years; however, in that time, the nearby wooded area has grown significantly, impacting their efficiency. Now, with the help of a £5000 green grant from Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council (TMBC), the business centre is taking a massive step forward by completely swapping our existing solar panels on Building 20 for much higher-wattage alternatives, increasing the yearly yield of our arrays.  

Why we’ve done it 

Continuous improvement is vital for long-term business success, and this isn’t our first triumph with solar upgrades. Back in 2024, with the help of a previous grant contribution from TMBC’s Green Business Grant Scheme, we successfully replaced and moved the PV panels on Building 30 with higher-wattage alternatives to maximise sunlight exposure.  

That project was an outstanding success: in its very first year of installation, the new panels increased the previous year’s generation by 4,964 kWh; a massive 31% boost in clean energy production. 

Suspecting that overgrown trees may be impacting other arrays in the same way, we surveyed the other PV arrays across Churchill Square Business Centre. The data clearly identified that the array on Building 20 was underperforming due to decreased of solar exposure.  

Our drone photos revealed that a large area of the roof is now covered in deep shade for much of the day, preventing sunlight from penetrating the panels. Consequently, energy production from this array had slowly dropped since their installation. We did not experience this same tree coverage over the roof of Building 50, which enjoys clear, unshaded sunlight. 

We initially explored the idea of simply moving the existing panels around on the roof. However, the unshaded areas were simply too small to accommodate all 120 panels. Instead, we decided that upgrading to around 60, more powerful panels was the most suitable path forward.  

What is the environmental impact of a new array? 

In the age of the internet, ESG policies are no longer optional, even for SMEs and startups; they are an essential tool for attracting clients and proving your commitment to sustainability. When you choose your business accommodation, your provider’s carbon footprint becomes a part of your own supply chain. That is why Capital Space invests heavily in creating eco-conscious workplaces.  

The projected environmental benefits of this new array on Building 20 are substantial. Thanks to an on-site Modbus monitoring device, we know that Building 20 is highly efficient at utilizing self-generated power, absorbing around 88% of its solar electricity directly within the building.   

Here is how the old system compares to the environmental savings of the new array:

• Existing Array (2025): Generated 17,254 kWh. Utilising 88% of this meant we used 15,183 kWh of solar-generated electricity on-site, reducing grid dependency.  
• Proposed New Array: Expected to produce 27,744 kWh. Utilising 88% means we will draw 24,415 kWh of pure solar energy directly from the roof.  This upgrade will reduce our reliance on the grid by an additional 9,232 kWh per year.

By lessening our collective reliance on fossil fuels, we are directly supporting your business’s green credentials.  

Whether you operate out of our physical workspaces on a flexible, simple monthly licence, book our premium meeting rooms for client pitches, or maintain a professional corporate presence via our virtual offices, you can be proud that Churchill Square is actively driving down carbon emissions. 

Investing in modern, high-efficiency green technology allows small businesses to lower their carbon footprints seamlessly while focusing on core business success. 

If you’re looking for office space from a provider that wants to support your business success, get in touch.