The Big Pit coal museum in Cardiff has embraced green technology by installing 200 solar PV modules on its roof.
The solar installation is expected to provide around 6% of the museum’s annual electricity consumption. The installation was financed by Amgueddfa Cymru at a cost of around £70,000. The National Collection Centre in Nantgarw has also benefitted from another 200 solar panels as part of the green energy scheme.
The museum Manager at Big Pit, Peter Walker, told South Wales Argus: “Coal is such an important part of Wales’ heritage and yet green energy will play a major part in its future. A solar-powered coal mining museum is a fantastic way to celebrate this national journey.”
Walker added: “But it’s far from just symbolic – the museum will benefit from huge reductions in energy bills and a solid return from the feed-in tariff.”
The solar installation is expected to generate a feed-in tariff income of £400,000 over the lifetime of the tariff – saving around 5,000,000kWh of electricity in the process.