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Solar Energy Services
News Release from: BP Solar | Subject: North Devon's largest solar installation
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 21 September 2005
New BP Solar and Solar Technologies
project
Top marks for North Devon's largest solar installation.
Independent engineers have praised a new fixing technique by specialist contractor Solar Technologies used to integrate an imaginative facelift on to a civic centre facia to produce renewable energy for the building Halcrow, the leading independent consulting engineering practice, carried out an inspection on the solar installation at Barnstaple Civic Centre on behalf of the grant funding body Future Energy Systems
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 17 Jan 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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They praised the high quality installation and found it to be one of the best in the country they had seen.
The installation, which is the largest of its kind in the region, overcame the problems presented by large pieces of concrete cladding on the main fascia that were up to 40 years old.
Solar Technologies devised a new fixing method by drilling through the concrete cladding into the original floor slabs to install the fittings to support and hold the solar panels in place.
More than 300 BP Standard 5170 modules were installed on the roof and integrated into the south-west facade of the civic centre which in total will produce 60kWp, equivalent to about 5% of the total energy requirements of the council's head office.
Councillor Malcolm Prowse, Leader of North Devon District Council, said: "I am extremely pleased to see the work on this exciting project completed".
"Solar panels are an excellent example of efficient, renewable energy and the building was a perfect location for the panels to go".
"On top of this they should help reduce the running costs of the Civic Centre and can be used as an example to other businesses and authorities as to what can be achieved in reducing fuel consumption".
Barry Marsh, managing director of Solar Technologies, added: "This innovative new installation technique shows how flexible and adaptable solar technology is that it can be fully integrated into existing, older buildings for not only aesthetic appearance but to also produce practical and safe, renewable energy.".
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