Guernsey Electricity and The Little Green Energy Company have together completed works to install a vast community-scale solar array on the roof of the newly reopened Grow headquarters.
The newly installed 310 photovoltaic (PV) panels will produce 129-kilowatt peak power (kWp), enough electricity to supply power to approximately 40 homes.
Planning for the project began last year when Grow approached The Little Green Energy Company to discuss the potential for a smaller private array at their headquarters, who then suggested the idea that the Grow site could also be used as a Guernsey Electricity owned community solar PV scheme, to benefit all islanders, as well as a smaller private scheme.
Grow Ltd General Manager, Karen Blanchford, said: “The Grow Board has been determined from the outset that the redevelopment project should be an asset for the Island as a whole and cooperating in the exploitation of the roof-space created was an obvious win-win.
“In order to ensure the greatest benefit for our day-to-day operations from the employment of modern technology, Grow Ltd also commissioned The Little Green Energy Company to supply and install a smaller PV array on the roof of the Hospitality Training Unit to deliver some of the energy consumed day-to-day.”
Alan Bates, CEO at Guernsey Electricity, said: “We are delighted to have worked collaboratively with the team at Grow and with The Little Green Energy Company on another fantastic Guernsey Electricity funded community solar project. These on-island initiatives are designed to increase the amount of electricity generated from local renewable sources.
“The electricity feeds directly into the Island’s network so that all our customers can benefit from locally generated, clean solar energy.”
The Grow installation follows similar projects completed over the past few years at Guernsey Post, King George V Playing Fields, The Ladies’ College and the Waste Transfer Station at Longue Hougue.
Bob Beebe, CEO of The Little Green Energy Company, said: “This has been a super project for all stakeholders involved and importantly our island community at large and we are delighted that the systems are now fully operational generating sustainable renewable electricity.
“With the Electricity Strategy now concluded we look forward to more of these types of systems in future being deployed and are committed to supporting such energy scheme initiatives.”
