Redwood Goes Green With Solar Roof on Beijing Logistics Centre

Logistics developer the Redwood Group made its own contribution towards cleaning up Beijing’s famously foul air recently when the Singapore-based warehouse investor introduced a solar roof capable of powering as much as 250 homes on a distribution centre it has developed in China’s capital.

The solar energy system is part of a regional initiative by the Redwood Group aimed at reducing the energy use and carbon footprint of its warehouse facilities, as China struggles to overcome severe pollution problems in the face of rapidly rising energy demand.

Redwood’s 24,300 square metre Beijing facility was completed in 2011 and was refitted with the 248 KW solar system by UGE International Ltd. The facility, which is located in Beijing’s Tongzhou district is currently leased to logistics provider Sino-Trans & electronics retailer Suning.

Colin Clark, Construction Director of the Redwood Group, China said, “The Beijing project is the first of many for Redwood nationally, solidifying our pioneering commitment to sustainable logistics buildings in China as elsewhere in Asia.”

The on-site solar energy system is expected to significantly reduce energy costs, operating expenses, and carbon footprint for the facility.

Redwood on Regional Solar Initiative

The Beijing solar set up is part of wider initiative for the Redwood Group, which has also begun installing solar roofs on its distribution centres in Japan.

During October the company launched the first of a dozen large scale solar projects in Japan, after securing a 20 year agreement to sell the power produced from warehouse roofs to the Tokyo Electric Power Company.

The first solar facility to go online in Japan for Redwood was at it Namamugi distribution centre near Tokyo, with additional electricity-producing roofs at the developer’s Sakura and Kawagoe locations near the Japanese capital expected to be completed in November and January respectively.

Together, these three initial projects are expected to produce 4 megawatts, which the company estimates is sufficient to power up to 4,000 homes. When complete the fleet of more than 12 solar roof facilities will be one of Japan’s largest solar roof initiatives, according to a statement from the company.

“Redwood prides itself on its commitment to sustainability,” said Stuart Gibson, CEO of the Redwood Group. “As well as creating revenue streams from otherwise underutilized areas and in-line with incorporating sustainable practices into the industrial facilities we develop, the solar panels generate clean energy, reduce environmental impact, energy expenses and greenhouse gas emissions.

For the initial three projects in Japan, Redwood has partnered with two of the country’s leading solar service providers, Kyocera Solar Corporation and Chuo Densetsu Co, to install and maintain the systems.