INSTALLATION I CASE STUDY


Solar slates for protected


WHEN ST PAUL’S CHURCH IN NEWTON ABBOTT was looking for a solar PV solution to reduce its carbon emissions it wasn’t a simple challenge, as its Grade I listed status meant that any alterations had to fully maintain the character of the 19th century church.


The modern look of standard solar PV panels had already been turned down by planners, so when the church’s architects (LSN Architects) suggested solar slates, they approached Exeter- based SunGift Energy who designed a 4 kWp system using a subtle Solar Century slate system.


“The solar slates are the perfect solution for us,” said the church’s Reverend Russell Chamberlain. “They have allowed us to preserve the look of the church while generating renewable energy and lowering our carbon footprint.”


40 www.solar-uk.net I Issue III 2013


church


Many older buildings can benefit from solar energy but maintaining and protecting the heritage of heritage buildings can be difficult. UK company SunGift were able to utilise the latest technology in bringing a Newton Abbott church into the 21st century with solar energy whilst maintaining the character.


The church first started investigating a renewable energy solution around 2005 when its ecology group began investigating ways to reduce the church’s environmental impact on the planet.


After years of ‘toing and froing’ with the planning authority, who would not allow any modifications to the roof, the church appealed their decisions and the Teignbridge Planning Committee voted overwhelmingly in favour of allowing the solar slate solution.


“Opting for solar slates was a real game changer as far as the planning committee was concerned,” added the Reverend Chamberlain. “It’s taken a number of years to get here, but we finally have an excellent working solution – my only regret is that it has taken so long, as the initial grant funding we had access to would have enabled us to have a system twice the size installed.”


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