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Building Energy Efficiency and Sustainability
News Release from: Energy Saving Trust (EST) | Subject: UK's First Fully Solar Powered Fire Station.
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 06 April 2004
UK's First Fully Solar Powered Fire
Station.
Richmond Fire Station has today announced that it is set to become the first totally solar powered fire station in the country, thanks to a DTI solar PV grant managed by the Energy Saving Trust.
The London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA) will put the £70,000 Government grant towards an innovative £118,000 scheme to install a roof top photovoltaic system which converts daylight into electricity The photovoltaic system produces energy without causing pollution
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 18 Jul 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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Solar cells in the appliance bay roof will produce around 23 kilowatts of electricity a year.
This will meet all the Station's needs for electricity and allow for some electricity to be exported back to the national grid.
The solar photovoltaic cells are being installed during waterproofing repair work on the Station's roof during which the roof lights will also be replaced.
Richmond Fire Station was built in 1963.
Authority Chair Val Shawcross said: "It is very exciting that the Richmond scheme is one of only 16 in the country to be awarded Government funding and, as the first fire station in the UK to become fully solar powered, shows that London is again leading the way.
"This is only one of many energy saving and recycling schemes being pioneered by the Authority and the grant recognises our total commitment to the environment." The news follows the allocation of an extra £5 million worth of funding - in addition to an original £20 million - from the Department of Trade and Industry to help local authorities, industry, homeowners and homebuilders co-finance photovoltaic systems.
Philip Sellwood, Chief Executive of the Energy Saving Trust commented: "We are delighted that the solar PV grant scheme will enable Richmond Fire Station to run on clean, renewable energy from the sun.
The threat posed by climate change means that all organisations have a responsibility to their communities to improve their environmental performance.
We hope that many others will take advantage of the grants available to them and follow the LFEPA's example." The photovoltaic cells will be installed by BP Solar which submitted the successful tender.
Work will start in July/August and be completed by September.
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