31 May 2012
Shoreham Port is working with Brighton Energy Co-operative on a locally grown renewable energy scheme. Brighton Energy Co-operative is installing solar panels on four sites in East Sussex, including Shoreham Port, with the aim of producing enough energy to power 40 homes and businesses and save 1,085 tonnes of carbon dioxide. The combined size of the array of solar panels will be over 2,500 square metres, the equivalent of about half the size of a football pitch, which will generate more than 120kW.
Installation of the solar panels at Shoreham Port has commenced on the buildings at Hove Enterprise Centre, which feature different pitch and orientation. Electricity will feed into a supply serving Hove Enterprise Centre and the facilities of Aldrington Marina. The diagram shows an overhead view of one of the roofs at Hove Enterprise Centre where the panels are being installed.
The community based project was an attractive proposition for the Port as it involves local people and thus compliments the Port’s commitment to working with and supporting the local community. Peter Davies, Development Director said “We think there are considerable opportunities for the Port to play its part in seeing renewable energy in the Brighton area, and we are very keen to work with local groups and companies to achieve that. We’re working very hard on a number of issues to reduce our carbon footprint and using solar panels to generate electricity is a great step forward.”
Damian Tow, Brighton
Energy Co-op Director, commented "Hove Enterprise Centre is ideally
located for solar panels, being south facing and un-shaded, and Shoreham Port's
ambitions to develop renewable energy and service the Rampion Wind farm fits
with BEC's aim to install community owned solar PV across the City. This being
our first major project, we have found the support and proactive approach
provided by Peter Davies and Tim Hague invaluable, and we look forward to
completion of the array at Hove Enterprise Centre and it acting as a showcase
for joint business-community projects"
To find out more about the scheme and to help put Brighton on the map as a green city please visit Brighton Energy Co-operative’s website - www.brightonenergy.org.uk.
