Photovoltaic (PV) panels installed on the roof of the new Elsea Park Community Centre in Bourne, Lincolnshire, are set to save the Elsea Park Trust nearly £500 a year in energy costs and up to six tonnes of carbon emissions.
They will also generate an income of around £1,500 per year – giving a total financial benefit of close to £2,000 per year.
Photovoltaic panels produce electricity from daylight, generating useable power even on cloudy days.
Market Deeping-based Eco Building Products supplied 40 photovoltaic panels rated at 240 Watts and SMA inverters which together convert the sun’s energy into usable electricity. The whole scheme is predicted to generate over 8,000 kWh of electricity annually, which will help reduce the centre’s bills for electricity from the grid.
Lark Energy, part of the Larkfleet Group, oversaw the planning of the project and installation of the panels.
The Centre @ Elsea Park will benefit from the government’s Feed in Tariff (FIT) which guarantees payments for the generation of energy from renewable energy technologies such as photovoltaic panels.
Ian Greenfield of Eco Building Products said: “Despite confusion over the FIT rules it is still possible to get a return on investment of between ten and fifteen per cent because installation costs are falling and the market is now more competitive.
“A PV scheme represents a great investment as the return could be as much as three times the yield on an ISA for example. Combine that with reductions in energy bills and it makes more sense than ever to look at solar PV for both commercial and domestic installation.”
The centre will use around 80 per cent of the electricity generated by the installation. The remainder will be exported to the national grid. The income from taking advantage of FIT is predicted to be in the region of £1,500 each year while the predicted savings in energy costs will be about £460 annually.
The Elsea Park Trust is also reducing its carbon footprint not only by generating much of its own electricity but also by selecting local providers to install its system. The system itself is set to save in the region of six tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.
Ian Greenfield added: “The installation of PV panels at Elsea Park means that the community centre can generate significant savings in energy use over time, not simply in cash terms but also in terms of pressure on the environment.
“Elsea Park Trust will benefit from the Feed in Tariff which will see significant reductions in fuel bills and carbon emissions. Eco Building Products hopes to work on many similar projects in the near future.”