We have compiled a list of Exemplar sites in the UK and internationally that either (1) demonstrate the use of green energy technologies in public parks and greenspaces or (2) highlight innovative organisational models for the management of greenspaces. 

If you are interested in more detailed information, view the list below or search our more comprehensive spreadsheet (Ver 1. approx. 200 Kb).

Download XLSX spreadsheet (Microsoft Excel)     Download ODS spreadsheet (open docs)

As we discover more sites we will update this resource. If you know of any interesting examples in the UK or worldwide please let us know by email

Scotland

• Aberdeen, Duthie Park Winter Gardens. Heat generation by using a biomass boiler fed with surplus wood from Council’s parks
  
• Aberdeen, Rubislaw Pavilion. Heat generation by using a ground source heat pump and solar panels
• Aberdeen, Hazlehead Park. Heat for the buildings is provided by a city-wide district heat network
• Borders, Floors Castle, Scottish Borders.  Biomass heating system in large historic building
• Dundee, Caird Park. Read our ParkPower case study about the Low Carbon District Energy Hub as part of the new Regional Performance Centre for Sport - see also ESB Energy Caird Park video and article in BuildingTalk.com 
  
• Edinburgh, Saughton Park. Vertical and horizontal ground source heat pumps powered by micro-hydro scheme
• Falkirk, Callendar Park. Hosting new district heat pipe network
• Fife, Lochore Meadows Country Park. Read our ParkPower case study about the new visitors centre and water source heat pump
  
• Glasgow, Studio Pavilion in Bellahouston Park. Heat generation by using air source heat pump
• Glasgow, Fernbrae Meadows. Generation of electricity by using a wind turbine
• Glasgow, Pollok Park. Electricity generation by using hydro-electric scheme
• Glasgow, Broomhill, Knightswood and Maryhill neighbourhood District Heat Network by Cube Housing (gas driven)
• Helensburgh, Hermitage Park. Read our ParkPower case study about Hermitage Park Pavilion
• Lanark, Castlebank Horticultural Centre. Energy generation by using roof mounted solar panels
• Midlothian, Midlothian Community Hospital Garden, NHS Lothian. Solar PV installed on roof of community building
• Stirling, Stirling Council waste water heat pump solution using greenspace to route district heat network
• West Lothian, Beecraigs Country Park. Ground-mounted solar PV array, case study coming soon
• Multiple sites, Bandwidth Project 3 waste water heat pump projects to public buildings (leisure centres and museum) across Scotland

Rest of UK

• Bristol, Owen Square Community Energy Project. Case study now published on ParkPower website
• Bristol, Avonmouth wind turbines sited on brownfield land owned by Bristol City Council
• Cirencester, Cotswold Water Park. Energy generation using solar panels and a lake-loop coupled to heat pumps
• Cheshire, Delamere Forest.  New eco-visitor centre designed by Forestry England to be energy efficient and use a range of renewable technologies like solar PV and ground source heat pump
• Cumbria, New North Office in Lake District National Park. Energy generation by using solar panels and biomass boiler powered by woodchips harvested from the park
• Felinheli, GreenWood Forest Park. Electricity generation using solar panels
• Gateshead, Saltwell Park, Gateshead, Gateshead Council.  Air source heat pump in park building.
• Leicester, multiple locations, e.g. Castle Hill Country Park, Jesse Jackson Park. Electricity generation to run defibrillators by using solar panels and wind turbines
• London - Energy Garden project - using solar power revenue to finance green spaces across London
• London, Hackney. 'Powering Parks' project exploring potential for ground source heat pumps to heat buildings
• London, Morden Hall Park. National Trust site with new cafe and shop run on renewable energy from solar PV and PV-T roof tiles, air source heat pump, hydro river turbine and Passivhaus energy efficiency standards.
• London, case study published for Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
• London, Royal Parks building in Hyde Park. Electricity generation by using roof mounted solar panels
• London, Elephant Park Energy Hub. Heat generation by using combined heat and power
• Malvern, Malvern Hills. Electricity generation to run street lamps using dog fouling
• New Forest, Chewton Glen treehouses, private hotel.   Air-to-water heat pumps for hot water and space heating.
• Reading, Basildon Park. Heat generation by using ground sourced heat pump
• Staffordshire, Biddulph Grange Country Park. Energy generation by using a hydroelectric scheme
• Sunderland, high-rise residential housing.  Gas heating replaced by GSHPs using surrounding greenspace
• Wales, Plas Newydd. Heat generation by using heat from the sea for a large National Trust property
• Wales, Aberglasney Gardens. Heat generation for surrounding buildings by using biomass-fuelled heating system
• York, Environment Centre in St Nicholas Fields Local Nature Reserve. Energy generation by using wind turbine and solar panels, passive solar gain for design of the centre
• Whole UK, several RSPB reserves. Electricity generation by using roof- and ground-mounted solar panels

Project to replace gas central heating with shared loop GSHPs solution in Sunderland utilising surrounding greenspace.

Making optimal use of council land assets: Avonmouth wind turbines and solar farm located on brownfield land in the Bristol docks area on land owned by Bristol City Council.

International

• Large scale heat pump examples in Europe
• Australia, Sydney, Ballast Point Park. Electricity generation by integrating wind turbines into sculpture made of post-industrial remnants
• Austria, Vienna, BOKU. Electricity generation by integrating semi-transparent solar panels into the design of a roof-garden
• Denmark, The Copehagen district heating system - a case study
• Denmark, Dronninglund Fjernvarme. Local community energy cooperative delivering town-based district heating solution using large scale solar thermal panel array and thermal pit-based water storage
• Netherlands, Solarpark de Kwekerij. A park that combines solar power generation, public amenity and nature conservation
• Pakistan, Islamabad, F9 Park/ Fatima Jinnah Park. Electricity generation to run lights, by utilising solar panels on carparks
• Singapore, Singapore, Woodlands Waterfront Park. Electricity generation by using a floating solar panel system
• Switzerland, Basel, BaseLink. On-going planning for energy generation by using solar panels and a downhole heat exchanger
• USA, Boston, Boston Parks. High-tech bench providing solar-powered charging stations in the park
• USA, California, County of San Luis Obispo  Solar PV car park canopies for a golf course owned by Department of Parks and Recreation
• USA, Massachusetts, Greenfield Energy Park. Park is designed as demonstration of renewable energy projects and information, e.g. electricity generation by using solar and wind
• USA, Minneapolis, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. Electricity generation by using roof- and ground-mounted solar panels
• USA, New Jersey, Richard Stockton College of New Jersey.  Large-scale (400 borehole) open loop heat pump installation with post-installation monitoring - see also Ground Source Heat Pumps: Are they green? which references this project and these research papers: 1. Epstein, 2. Epstein and Sowers
• USA, New York City, Freshkills Park. On-going planning for electricity generation by operating a solar power facility
• USA, Wyoming, Cheyenne Botanic Garden. Electricity generation by using a solar energy system and a battery backup as well as a windmill and wind turbine

Examples of GSHP solutions in Ireland: Tralee Motor Tax Office and Dolmen Community 'Eco' Centre built in 2006 both of which utilise surrounding land to host the technology - read more.