Viridis makes community based Solar PV schemes a reality!
Peter Moore of Viridis looks back at one of the ground breaking community based solar PV schemes in the UK based around the Danish model of localised power generation.
“There’s no point doing anything because China’s emissions are growing.” Was a familiar comment from inhabitants of Marlow, Buckinghamshire, by March 2010 they would become part of the 100 Solar Project, a community renewables buying group. To date, 185 households have registered, and 30 Marlow families now generate electricity through photovoltaic and solar thermal cells. “We’ve had calls from all over the country,” he says. “I hope people outside of our seven-mile radius around Marlow will start their own scheme.”
To this end he’s compiled a best-practice document. He analysed 10 renewable energy companies using his procurement expertise before settling on one provider. “We have enough homes to leverage a 12% discount, so everyone got a rebate after six months. But I’m still aiming for 100 homes, which would mean a rebate of 20%.” This could “save 80,000kg of CO2 each year. Imagine if every town across the UK did that!”
But for now he is focused on Marlow becoming a destination where visitors notice a “disproportionate amount of solar”. Naturally each house is a shining example. The family is the proud owner of nine Mitsubishi solar PV panels and two solar thermal panels for hot water. “They were offered free installation from installers as a perk of setting this up,” he admits, “and as it cost £15,000. This would have been attractive for the participants but the purpose of a community buying group like this is being on the same terms, so I’m waiting for my rebate cheques, too…”