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Schools Energy Co-operative installation of solar panels on Salisbury Cathedral

Salisbury Cathedral takes a step forward in bid to become carbon neutral by 2030 with the installation of 93 solar panels

Salisbury Cathedral has taken a step forward in their bid to become carbon neutral by 2030 in line with targets agreed earlier this year by the Church of England by installing solar panels on the roof of its cloisters.

Energy4All member The Schools’ Energy Co-operative, working in partnership with local community energy organisation Salisbury Community Energy, delivered the installation, which was designed and installed by leading PV installer Joju Solar and managed by Energy4All project manager Laura Moreno.

The project has been under development since late 2017, when Salisbury Community Energy first approached the Cathedral about a possible installation.  In 2019, Salisbury Community Energy formed a partnership with Schools Energy Co-operative to deliver the project.  Supported by Energy4All, Schools Energy Co-operative raised the funds needed in November 2019 by means of a local community share offer.  Planning permission was then granted in March of this year.  The panels are collectively funded by ethical investors, many local to Salisbury, who want to encourage more renewable energy generation.

Salisbury Cathedral press release
Photography by Ash Mills | www.ashmills.com

Located high on the South Cloister roof, the panels can only be seen briefly by visitors who are climbing the Spire and are not visible from the ground therefore taking nothing away from the splendour of this historic building.

The 37 kW installation was completed at the start of July and will provide 33,708 kWh of clean energy to Salisbury Cathedral, reducing its carbon footprint by 11,764 kilograms per year.

Commenting after the completion of the installation, Rt Rev Nicholas Holtam, Bishop of Salisbury said “The Church of England is working hard towards a Net Zero carbon footprint by 2030. As the Church of England’s lead bishop for the environment, I am delighted that Salisbury Cathedral is making a contribution that takes us towards this.  With clear purpose and helpful partnerships even iconic buildings can make a difference towards sustainability.”

Canon Robert Titley, Canon Treasurer of Salisbury Cathedral added “We are delighted to be the second English cathedral to install solar panels as part of our continuing green initiatives, which have included draft proofing our medieval building, moving to green tariff energy and installing LED lighting.

“We are called to preach good news, and through this, we are taking another small step toward being good news for God’s earth and not just part of the problem.”

On behalf of Salisbury Community Energy, Director Thomas Burnett said “We are delighted to have been able to work with our partners to make this installation happen. It was always a very important site for Salisbury Community Energy as it sends a strong message. We hope it will galvanise others to follow suit.”

These comments were echoed by Mike Smyth, Chairman of School Energy Cooperative.  “Schools Energy Co-op recognises the very prestigious nature of this iconic heritage building, along with the sensitivity required to preserve its appearance and structure. The panels are discreetly placed out of sight, but demonstrate that renewable technology can be compatible with historic architecture, thus satisfying aesthetics and environmental responsibility. It is hoped that this provides an example for other churches to follow.” He said.

Salisbury Cathedral press release
Photo above shows Rt Rev Nicholas Holtam, Bishop of Salisbury
Salisbury cathedral press release
Canon Robert Titley pictured with Members of Salisbury Community Energy
Salisbury Cathedral press release
James Page from Joju Solar installing the grids
Salisbury Cathedral press release
Canon Robert Titley with Laura Moreno, Director, Schools Energy Co-op.

More photographs of the installation can be found here

Schools’ Energy Co-operative is an award winning, successful, ethical, community based, profitable social enterprise. It has raised £2,950,000 from five share offers, invested the money in installing Solar Panels on schools and community buildings and paid interest to its members on their investment. It launched in August 2014 and has already generated more than 6.4 GWh of renewable electricity. Salisbury Cathedral is its 81st installation, which are mainly on schools and total 2.99 MW.  www.schools-energy-coop.co.uk

Salisbury Community Energy (SCE) is a local not-for-profit community benefit society that was set-up in 2017 to help Salisbury decarbonise and manage the threats posed by climate change. It received grant funding from the Rural Community Energy Fund to identify potential sites for Solar Panels and hydro generators. The four other solar PV sites installed in partnership with Schools’ Energy Co-operative are: Bishops Wordsworth’s School, Kong Limited, St. Martin’s Primary School and Wiltshire College.  www.salisburycommunityenergy.co.uk

Joju Solar are one of the UK’s leading installers of solar PV, battery storage and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.  Joju have been pioneering within the community energy sector and to date have installed nearly 20% of all community renewable energy projects in the country.  www.jojusolar.co.uk

New Transmitter fitted at West Solent Solar Co-op

New transmitter fitted at West Solent Solar Co-operative

West Solent Solar Cooperative (WSSC) has just completed the installation of a brand-new ABB cast resin transformer at their Lymington solar farm.

The ABB model replaces the original oil transformer which had developed problems. The ABB unit is compact enough to fit within the existing transformer cabin and meets marine specifications (vital for its coastal location). It is also equipped with integral cooling fans and temperature controls to ensure it cannot overheat.

The work has been successfully completed by managing contractor, Arun Construction Services Ltd, along with subcontractors Burnell Switchgear and Control, and Portable Space Ltd, who all provided a very neat installation not only within a tight timescale, but also within a very tight space as can be seen from this picture!

The project was directed by WSSC with technical support from consultant electrical engineer, Paul Carder of Power System Consulting Ltd and Geoff Hodge of Fundamentals Ltd.

WSSC Transmitter
WSSC Transmitter fitting

Four Winds Hospice Donations

Four Winds Energy Co-operative shows community spirit with donations totaling £7000 following urgent appeals from local hospices

Four Winds Energy Co-operative Ltd has made two donations totaling £7,000, split equally between Barnsley Hospice and Ashgate Hospicecare, Chesterfield after both hospices launched urgent appeals during the current Coronavirus pandemic.

Founded in 2013, Four Winds is a community-owned co-operative meaning members of the public own a stake in their local renewable energy source and thus benefit from the sale of green electricity over two sites in Duckmanton and Shafton.

Four Winds Press Release

 

After receiving the grant, Ian Muffett, Deputy CEO at Barnsley Hospice commented “Barnsley Hospice was delighted to receive this donation. In these difficult times we have had to curtail our patient visiting arrangements to protect both patients and our staff. This has meant that families cannot see each other as they would otherwise like. This donation will be used to improve technology provision, improving links for patients to enable them to keep in contact with family and friends whilst receiving high quality care here in the Hospice.”

Tina Croley, Trusts and Grants Fundraiser at Ashgate Hospicecare also said “We are incredibly grateful to the Four Winds Energy Co-operative Community Fund for helping us to continue to support our patients and their families during the Coronavirus outbreak by donating an amazing £3,500.

“Thank you so much to them and their members for their support which will enable us to reach our community at a time when our care is needed more than ever.”

Eddie Peat, Director of Four Winds Co-operative said “The Coronavirus crisis has caused considerable difficulties for most charitable organisations that rely on donations as well as income from their charity shops and other enterprises which have all closed.

“Four Winds makes annual donations to organisations local to its turbines at Shafton near Barnsley and Duckmanton near Chesterfield. We became aware of emergency appeals launched by both Ashgate and Barnsley Hospices and wanted to help them, both of which have continued to provide vital services to clients in their communities. As a result of this, the Four Winds Co-op Board very quickly approved and paid grants of £3,500 to each hospice in response to their emergency appeals. I think that this is a very good use of our community fund at a time of so much uncertainty and lack of funds for both organisations. I am really pleased that we have been able to make this contribution to the magnificent work that both hospices do in their communities.”

Any local community project that meets the criteria can apply for a donation from the Four Winds community fund; applications are considered on a quarterly basis. Further details and how to apply can be found on the Community Fund page at www.fourwinds.coop . A sample portfolio of projects assisted by Four Winds in the past are also located here.

Four Winds Co-operative are supported and assisted by Energy4All. Four Winds is one of the family of twenty seven community energy co-operatives developed by Energy4All, demonstrating the power of co-operation in the renewables sector.

 

Press release