Planet Solar - University goes for green with 600 solar panels
The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), one of
the country’s fastest growing universities, has teamed
up with Planet Solar to help reduce its carbon footprint
and generate its own energy.
The Preston-based educational establishment, which has
over 32,000 students, has commissioned Planet Solar to
install 180 Solar Photovoltaic (PV) panels which is part
of a three-phase project which will see 600 panels
installed across the University’s building portfolio.
Solar panels are manufactured from layers of specially
treated silicon where one side is positive and the other
negative. As daylight hits the silicon in a PV cell this
causes a flow of electrons inside the cell which
generates a voltage. This is directly converted into
useable electricity.
It is thought that this will be the largest renewable
energy project a UK educational establishment has
commissioned to be installed.
Phase one of the project will commence at the end of
October and will see 180 panels installed at a cost of
£199,000, which has been part-funded by a Government
grant which gives 50 per cent of costs toward renewable
energy projects.
Paul Morris, director of facilities management,
commented that improving sustainability across the
University’s Estate was a key priority.
He said: “The solar panel installation will reduce
energy drawn from the National Grid and provide
technologies for student study on Built and Natural
Environment courses.
“The University will be delivering a wide range of
energy and carbon saving initiatives as part of its
obligation to the Carbon reduction Commitment managed by
the Carbon Trust.”
Planet Solar, which was is based in Leyland will start
work on the Solar PV panel installation in January 2008.
The company is already working on projects totalling a
£1 million.
Mark Dickinson, managing director of Planet Solar added:
“Many schools, colleges and universities are realising
the benefit of installing systems that reduce an
organisations carbon footprint and can help to generate
electricity that is needed to run these important
buildings. We also enable links with parts of the
curriculum by installing monitoring technology as part
of the system to allow students to monitor the
performance of the system.
“With the added benefit of a 50 per cent Government
grant, it is proving to be a cost-effective, safe and
reliable means of creating power.”
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