Equans has completed and brought into service a smart energy grid at the Babraham Road Park & Ride in Cambridge, delivered in partnership with Cambridgeshire County Council to advance the authority's clean energy and decarbonisation goals.

The fully operational system combines on-site renewable generation with public electric vehicle charging to support low-carbon transport across the county.

The hub integrates solar power, EV charging and a private-wire electricity network in one location, allowing locally generated renewable electricity to be used on site and supplied to a nearby NHS hospital. Over 30 years, the installation is expected to produce around 65 GWh of power and avoid approximately 15,000 tonnes of CO2.

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Construction finished in November 2025, with Equans designing and building the infrastructure, including a 2.5 MWp solar PV carport, electrical systems, grid connection, a 2 km private-wire link and EV charging facilities. Equans will also provide ongoing operations and maintenance.

The scheme delivers wider social value by enabling cleaner travel, improving access to EV charging and reinvesting revenue in local services. The solar carport maximises use of existing parking space without cutting capacity, in line with circular economy principles. During construction, measures included waste segregation, local recruitment, apprenticeship opportunities and a shift to lower-carbon fuels where possible.