HSBC’s Canary Wharf office tower is the tallest corporate headquarter building in Europe to feature solar panels. Covering 617 square metres of the roof of the building, it is also the largest installation of photovoltaic panels on a corporate office in London. HSBC’s energy saving measure illustrates the bank’s latest commitment to reducing its impact on the environment since it became carbon neutral in 2005.

At 213 metres (700 feet) high, building engineers developed fixing techniques for the 422 solar panels to withstand wind speeds of up to 140 mph. The panels – manufactured by Sharp Solar in the UK – will generate approximately 1,550,000 kilowatt hours of green electricity over the building’s lease – enough energy to power 20 average UK homes per year. Since 2004, HSBC has decreased its energy consumption at the headquarter office building by seven per cent, or 20 per cent per full time employee – a significant reduction for a corporate building of its size.

“This installation showcases innovation and demonstrates that renewable technologies of this scale can be delivered successfully. If every headquarter building around the world invested in solar panels, it would significantly accelerate the transition towards a low carbon economy and we hope to become a catalyst for this,” said Simon Martin, Head of Group Corporate Sustainability, HSBC Holdings Plc.

HSBC expects to save a further three per cent (1,750,000 kilowatt hours) of its total energy consumption in its global headquarter building over the next two years through energy efficient measures. This includes improving the efficiency of the building’s air conditioning system.

These energy efficient initiatives are part of the bank’s US$90 million Global Environmental Efficiency Programme, launched last year, to introduce renewable energy technology, water and waste reduction programmes and employee participation across its 10,000 offices around the world.

Sally Robson, HSBC Malta’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “As part of the HSBC Global Environmental Efficiency Programme, HSBC Malta has just commissioned a pilot project with a photovoltaic system at its new branch in Attard to reduce its carbon footprint. The system, being the largest of its kind in Malta, is expected to improve energy-efficiency by 20 to 30 per cent. HSBC Malta is also working with its staff and in the community to both minimise and compensate the environmental impact.”