TBY2 solar rooftop

In 2022, we opened TBY2 Studios, The Bottle Yard’s state-of-the-art second facility, powered by a gigantic 1MWp rooftop solar array consisting of more than 2,300 photovoltaic (PV) panels.

Funded by the Bristol Energy Cooperative, it is one of the biggest rooftop PV systems in the UK studios sector, and is believed to be the biggest community-owned solar rooftop array in the UK.

The rooftop’s 2,380 panels produce enough energy to power the equivalent of 250 homes annually, saving nearly 200 tonnes of CO2 per year.

City wide benefit

Not only is the solar array powering the entire TBY2 facility and its three new stages, it is also helping the city of Bristol reach its climate goal to be net zero by 2030.

During peak conditions, it generates more energy than the facility needs. Over time, this surplus energy will be utilised through Bristol’s City Leap Sleeved Pool electricity supply model. The model connects buildings and ‘sleeves’ surplus energy generated from one building over to another, to reduce energy consumption from non-renewables.

“The Bottle Yard’s new TBY2 facility and what it can offer to Bristol is immense. It’s not just the growth in film and TV production for the city, but it’s the commitment to help deliver Bristol’s 2030 carbon neutral ambition and the community and partnership working that underpins it.”
Councillor Kye Dudd, Cabinet Member for Climate, Ecology, Waste and Energy

Community benefit

Bristol Energy Cooperative’s community ownership model provides a return to its investor members, whilst surplus revenues go back to the local community through grants and investment into more local energy projects.

The Coop’s latest share offer, which closed at the end of June, attracted £1.3 million from more than 478 investors.

Bristol City Council initially planned to install a 283kWp solar array on the rooftop of TBY2, but thanks to funding from BEC, the final array was more than three times larger than originally planned.

Recognition

In 2023, TBY2 was one the first facilities to receive the new global Studio Sustainability Standard from BAFTA albert and Arup – it was the second highest-scoring studio, receiving a ‘Very Good’ rating, the highest level awarded in the first cohort.

In 2024, it improved on this further by being one of only two studios to receive Outstanding, the highest rating achievable.

The Bottle Yard Studios won the Sustainable Initiative Award for TBY2’s solar rooftop at Screen International’s inaugural Global Production Awards in 2023.

“This is the sort of expansive thinking, large scale change we need in our industry to make real sustainable change… the grassroots effort, quantifiable success and clear benefit to both environment and filmmakers puts The Bottle Yard Studios in a class of its own.”
2023 Global Production Award Judges

In November 2023, the Studios took home the Innovation in Low Carbon Technology Award at the Future Leap Sustainable Business Awards, recognising the TBY2 solar array as “an innovative change in working that puts low-carbon solutions at the forefront of productivity”.

The Studios were also nominated in the Sustainability category of the 2023 Makers & Shakers Awards, the closing event of FOCUS London, the leading UK trade event for film and TV content makers and facilitators.

Ambitious scale

The size of this rooftop solar array is difficult to comprehend. Bristol City Council initially planned to install a 283kWp solar array on the rooftop of TBY2, but thanks to funding from BEC, the final array was more than three times larger than originally planned.

5,000 precisely placed rails had to be installed in preparation for fitting the array’s 2,380 solar panels. Installation was no mean feat. Working at such heights, at times with high winds, wasn’t without its challenges for the Solar South West team. At times the long walk across TBY2’s rooftop required several hands to steady each panel. Some days, it was too dangerous to carry anything.

“Solar arrays are often designed to cover just a small part of a roof, to reduce costs. But we’re in a climate crisis, and in order to meet Bristol’s climate goals we‘re aiming much higher than that. The Bottle Yard’s TBY2 facility is a massive site, with loads of opportunity for energy generation and CO2 reduction. So for this project, we were determined to make full use of the available roof space. To put it into context, the amount of energy this array is capable of generating could power more than 250 average Bristol households per year.”
Will Houghton, Bristol Energy Cooperative Project Developer