ARDS COUNCIL SWITCHES TO SMART ENERGY!

16/03/2005

Ards Borough Council has re-energised Exploris Aquarium in Portaferry, installing solar panels on the roof of the building which will generate up to 4,400 units of environmentally friendly electricity every year. Councils throughout Northern Ireland have the opportunity to install solar panels on their properties for a quarter of the price, thanks to Solar21, a new renewable energy support programme from Northern Ireland Electricity’s Smart programme in partnership with solarcentury and the Energy Saving Trust.  
 
Deputy Mayor of Ards, Councillor Angus Carson, visited Exploris to see the new panels in action. He said: “Ards Borough Council has been leading the way in terms of introducing energy-saving measures across its facilities and I am delighted that Ards is one of the first Councils in Northern Ireland to have these photovoltaic solar panels installed. This latest move at Exploris will not only reduce our energy costs but also our overall impact on the environment, and as a Council we look forward to reaping the benefits of the system. We are grateful to Northern Ireland Electricity and the Energy Saving Trust for their assistance with this project."  
 
The Council's Environmental Services Department is responsible for energy management within the organisation and Energy Engineer, Ken Green has also welcomed the project, which he hopes will have a positive effect on the local environment, as well as saving over £400 on the Council’s annual energy bill. The Council hopes to introduce more renewable energy projects to Council buildings in the near future.  
 
Gwyneth Scott, NIE Energy Services Co-ordinator is delighted Ards Borough Council is one of the first to integrate new renewable sources of energy into their buildings. "Renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies have the potential to substantially reduce the amounts of carbon dioxide emitted, helping to prevent climate change. Each 5 kWp system will reduce the carbon dioxide emitted into the local environment by up to three tonnes. It is hoped that supporting this type of non-polluting energy source will help develop the market and encourage homes and businesses to invest in sustainable energy solutions."  
 
Noel Williams, Head of the Energy Saving Trust in Northern Ireland, which manages the DTI's Solar Grant initiative in Northern Ireland says he has been working with utilities and councils to develop the use of renewable technologies. He went on to say: "The beauty of a photovoltaic system is that you don't need a sunny climate for them to have a significant impact on home or business energy costs. Even on cloudy days in Northern Ireland there is a huge amount of light in the atmosphere and photovoltaic cells still generate electricity. We are delighted that NIE and local councils are leading the way to encourage the uptake of renewable energy in Northern Ireland."  
 
Solar 21 contributes 75% towards the costs of the high efficiency Sanyo system, making the switch to renewable energy a smart move!  
 
To find out how more about renewable energy solutions for homes, communities and businesses, contact Action Renewables on 0800 512012, www.actionrenewables.org and for information on the solar grant, visit www.niesmart.co.uk.  
 

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