UK's largest solar installation to be shown

Organisers will be marking the completion of a large photovoltaic panel rooftop installation at their headquarters in Harrogate as it is set to become of the largest systems of its type in the United Kingdom.

The 245kW project, comprising of 980 Suntech panels and covering over 1,600m2 of roof space at the Great Yorkshire Showground took less than 4 weeks to complete.

With an expected electricity generation of more than 200,000 kWh per annum (enough power for 50 houses for one year) the Yorkshire Agricultural Society will benefit from free electricity and a saving of approximately £15,000 per annum.

Additionally they will be more than doing their bit for the reduction of CO2, with estimated savings in the region of 175,000 kg being anticipated.

“Operating in a sustainable way is very important to us" said Nigel Pulling, Chief Executive of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society.

"Being a year round exhibition centre we have a significant electricity requirement and installing solar panels was an obvious step we could take to reduce both our costs and our carbon footprint. The scale of the project was somewhat daunting but Duncan Renewables has done a first class job in managing the installation from the initial planning permission application right through to registering the system with OFGEM. Due to the number of events we hold here, there was a narrow window within which to complete the project but the team from Duncan Renewables worked efficiently to ensure that the system is up and running in time for The Great Yorkshire Show. We are delighted with the end result and look forward to enjoying the benefits over the next 25 years”.

Despite all the media hype about the reduction in tariff fees, there are still great returns to be had from solar PV. The announcements in May as to how FiTs will be monitored over future years have provided much needed clarity to the solar industry.

”This was a unique opportunity for us to work with one of the most revered organisations in the North of England" said Duncan Renewables Manager, Richard Peat.

"There is no better way to showcase the benefits of solar PV, especially at a commercial level, than to have an installation at a site that attracts more than 500,000 people per annum. We’re currently working with many local businesses to help them see how they can generate revenue from renewable technologies. The introduction of the renewable heat incentive means that in addition to solar projects, we are seeing significant demand for our biomass expertise”.

Duncan Renewables has grown significantly over the past two years, building on the team’s plumbing and heating background to specialise in the green technologies of the future such as solar PV, solar thermal and biomass heating. The expansion has created in the region of 20 new jobs with their customer base extending across Yorkshire & Humberside regions and beyond.

For both solar and biomass projects Duncan Renewables offer a full turn-key service covering system design, obtaining all necessary consents and providing ongoing maintenance.