On top of a vehicle garage at Swinton Barracks, Perham Down, solar panels are turning an ordinary roof into a source of renewable energy. Since January 2023, it has been generating clean electricity for the British Army, recently reaching a milestone of over 1 gigawatt hour (GWh). 

Delivered by ADSL on behalf of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation for the British Army, the installation is part of Project Prometheus and reflects a practical step towards a more sustainable estate. The 912 solar panels have steadily reduced reliance on traditional energy sources while supporting the day-to-day operations on site. 

The impact of generating 1 GWh of electricity is significant. The installation is estimated to have cut around 197,000 kilograms of carbon emissions, comparable to planting approximately 12,000 trees.  

As the largest solar roof across the Project Allenby Connaught Estate and the first to surpass 1 GWh of generation, the project demonstrates how a single building can make a substantial contribution through the simple use of available roof space. More than three years on, what was once an ordinary vehicle garage roof has become a significant source of clean electricity for the British Army.