Gill Wyatt, Exec Chair of Exeter Community Energy, and (right) Steve Strang, Head of Estates at Exeter College, with in the background Nuku Wondrausch (left) and Ashley Commins (right) from SunGIft Solar.

City's largest community solar power project installed at Exeter College

Exeter Community Energy has now started the installation at Exeter College, the city’s largest community solar power project. Solar panels are being installed on the roof of the Exeter College’s Technology Centre. When completed this 150 kWp installation will be the largest community energy project in Exeter and East Devon.

The panels will provide 140,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually, enough to power 35 houses and will save the Technology Centre approx £150,000 over 20 years. The panels will reduce the carbon footprint of the College by 78 tonnes a year – the same amount of carbon dioxide that around 500 trees would absorb. The project will also provide an additional income stream to Exeter College to be reinvested into education in the city.

Gill Wyatt, Exec Chair of Exeter Community Energy said: “Partnering with Exeter College is an important step for ECOE’s growing portfolio of rooftop solar in Exeter. These panels will save the Technology Centre approx £150,000 over 20 years, with 65% of the electricity being used by the Centre, and reduce their carbon emissions by 78 tonnes a year. We will be installing other rooftop installations later this year. ”

Exeter Community Energy, a not-for-profit social enterprise has over 200 community members who have invested £390,000 for nine rooftop solar installations. Four have been completed in Exeter and there are a further six in the pipeline. Exeter Community Energy aims to develop community-owned renewable energy projects, raise awareness of local, low carbon solutions and create a community fund to finance local projects to promote energy efficiency and help to alleviate fuel poverty.

Steve Strang, Head of Estates at Exeter College said: “We are delighted to be working together with Exeter Community Energy and SunGift Solar on delivering this project to generate renewable energy through solar power at Exeter College. "Like all public sector bodies, Exeter College is exploring efficiencies and opportunities to meet budget constraints. This solar installation initiative not only reduces our carbon footprint and provide us with green energy, it also provides the additional economic benefit of an income stream that can be reinvested into education in the city.”

Multi award winning SunGift Solar, based in Exeter won the tender to install the solar panels. Gabriel Wondrausch, Managing Director of SunGift Solar said: “It is a great pleasure to install this solar system for ECOE & Exeter College. We are used to our systems delivering many benefits but we are very proud of this particular one because the benefits are so wide reaching, from the college and all its students to the members/investors of ECOE and the beneficiaries of the community fund.”

For more information see www.ecoe.org.uk