sjp goes green
Generating electricity In 2005 we installed photovoltaic panels allowing us to generate electricity from sunlight. We were helped by a £16,000 grant from EDF Energy.
Two rows of photovoltaic panels sit on the south-facing roof of the church. They supplement the church’s electricity needs by generating greener energy from sunlight for lighting and everyday appliances.
The work, which was carried out with sensitivity given the building’s outstanding architectural heritage, has been partly funded by the grant from EDF Energy’s Green Energy Fund, with additional funding coming from the Energy Saving Trust and from the church itself. Nigel French, EDF Energy Green Tariff Fund Manager, said “This is an excellent project that shows how well sustainable technologies can co-exist in a Grade I Listed historic building. We are pleased to have been involved in the grant funding of such a project which demonstrates innovation, community involvement and good planning. This inspiring scheme will make a small but important additional contribution to the proportion of energy coming from renewable sources.”
Simon Dawson, for St James's, says “The scheme comprises 40 photovoltaic panels which will generate up to 5kW to feed into our electricity supply. As our church is a Grade I historic building we faced some planning constraints, mainly that the PV panels had to be invisible from the ground. This did limit the size of our scheme. Nevertheless it will provide electrical power equivalent to the needs of a three-bedroom house and an annual cash saving of over £500. Now we have shown that modern green technology can be fitted into an historic building, we hope that other churches can build on our experience to create even bigger and more powerful installations” |
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