Totnes solar firm Bloom Renewables installs panels at historic Kent steam railway, cutting costs and emissions

Bloom Renewables, a Totnes-based renewable energy company, has completed a solar panel installation at the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway in Kent. The system is expected to generate around 110,000 kWh of electricity per year, saving the heritage railway up to 18,000 pounds annually on energy bills and reducing carbon emissions by an estimated 50 tonnes of CO2 per year. The project shows how historic attractions can adopt renewable energy without compromising their character. The installation helps the century-old steam railway lower operational costs while contributing to decarbonization goals. This is a practical example of distributed solar generation serving a niche commercial application. For those interested in renewable project finance and real-world solar deployment, this case offers a clear look at the numbers behind a small-scale commercial installation. The 50 tonne CO2 reduction and the 18,000 pound annual savings provide concrete benchmarks for similar heritage or tourism sites considering solar.