The 366-acre St Agnes Island, which forms part of the Scilly Isles, has seen a record number of solar PV installations fitted over the last five months by Penzance-based solar PV company, Plug into the Sun.
The company has installed 70kWp of solar capacity across the island, meaning that residents can now boast to have installed proportionately the highest concentration of solar per community anywhere in the UK.
The location of the island means that it enjoys the highest sunshine levels in the UK, perfectly placed to allow the residents to enjoy the maximum benefit from their solar panels.
Plug into the Sun’s latest installation saw a 10kWp roof integrated system fitted on the newly built Five Islands School. The school’s solar array consisted of all black SOLON modules which were chosen to blend in with the slate roof, providing an incredibly aesthetically pleasing install.
Plug into the Sun estimates the latest school installation will save over five tonnes of CO2 per year – enough to power up to 100 computers.
Bursar and Estate Manager from Five Islands School, Caroline King said: “It is part of a sustainable vision which has been extended to all our school sites. It underpins what is taught across all the key stages to students. Public buildings of a certain size have to have a display energy certificate and demonstrate improvement in carbon emissions. It is important that our school leads the way for future generations and sets an example to protect the Island’s environment from rising sea levels.”
Data logging from other installations have already shown excellent results and Andrew Tanner, Managing Director from Plug into the Sun said that the outputs clearly showed how fantastic the light levels are on the islands and how well the systems are performing.
Tanner added: “The exposed nature of the islands has had extra challenges for us, but the panels we use are of top quality and designed to withstand high levels of salt and winds up to 100mph.”
The renewable company had to battle tough winter conditions whilst installing the systems on the island. Customers to benefit from solar power include Troy Town Farm, which is also the most south westerly property in the UK to have solar PV and also 28 Miles, a family business dedicated to using natural flower oils for their handmade soaps.
Michael Hicks, the owner of 28 Miles said that he wanted solar as it was a good return on the investment and also to do their bit to produce green energy.
Hicks said: “It’s nice to have it on the roof of the barn where the still we use to produce the essential oils sits!”