Premier Construction Wales

Knox & Wells

Knox & Wells, solar PV panels
Written by Roma Publications

Knox & Wells, solar PV panels

Cardiff based construction company Knox & Wells are MCS accredited engineers who supply and install solar PV panels.

Since their inception the firm has worked on a number of prestigious projects including the construction of Flying Start Childcare Facility in Mid Glamorgan and the extensive refurbishment of the United World Colleges Library facilities in South Glamorgan.

Knox and Wells are working on behalf of Bridgend County Borough Council to construct the Flying Start Childcare Facility in Mid Glamorgan. Works began on site in August this year and are set to be completed by January 2015.

Works on the £1.5 million project include the construction of nursery and kindergarten schools, associated offices, canteens and kitchens, as well as storage buildings. The project involves the traditional design and build of the main structure, roof clad with slates and tiles, the windows will be colour coated and aluminum framed, the walls clad with profiled cement and the surrounding roads will be surfaced.

Knox and Wells also played an integral role in the library alterations and refurbishment at United World College Llantwit Major, South Glamorgan. Works began on site in February this year and are due to be completed by November.

The library refurbishment includes upgrading all of the lighting, power sockets and heating systems, as well as the installation of a platform lift. The library floor is set to be raised during the refurbishment process and three single glazed minimal screens will be installed, acting as feature pieces, in some of the buildings impressive stone arches.

The project has been commissioned by UWC Atlantic College and will cost a total of £600,000 to undertake the works. UWC have been assisted by project architects Burrell Foley Fischer, quantity surveyors Jackson Coles Head Office, Method Consulting, Price & Myers, as well as principal contractors Knox and Wells.

Solar PV panels 

Solar panel electricity systems, also known as solar photovoltaics capture the sun’s energy using photovoltaic cells. These cells don’t need direct sunlight to work and can still generate some electricity on a cloudy day. The cells convert the sunlight into electricity, which can be used to run household appliances and lighting.

PV cells are made from layers of semi-conducting material, usually silicon. When light shines on the cell it creates an electric field across the layers; the stronger the sunshine, the more electricity is produced. Groups of cells are mounted together in panels or modules that can be mounted on roofs. The power of a PV cell is measured in kilowatts peak which is the rate at which energy is generated at peak performance in full direct sunlight during the summer. PV cells come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Most PV systems are made up of panels that fit on top of an existing roof, but you can also fit solar tiles.

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Roma Publications