Solarsense presentation moorhouse community solar lcsw business breakfast 190515

Moorhouse Lane Solar Park

Bristol’s first ever community-owned and led Solar Park.

Bristol’s largest Solar Power System to date.

Technical Details

Client: Low Carbon Gordano

Modules: BenQ 255 watt polycrystalline

Inverters: 4No. 350kW LT-i PVMaster III

System size: 1.83MWp

Total number of Solar Panels: 7176 Panels

Annual output estimate: 1750MWh

7,176 Solar Panels

1.83MWp Delivering 1,750MWh per year

Reducing CO2 Emissions by 850 Tonnes per year

7,176 Solar Panels

1.83MWp Delivering 1,750MWh per year

Reducing CO2 Emissions by 850 Tonnes per year

Issues and Problems to overcome

• Culmination of 5 years work looking at various sites

– schools

– village halls

– other land

• Rejected for various reasons

– ownership of the roofs

– schools agreeing, but North Somerset Councils not allowing solar on their buildings

– community committees not wanting “another group” using their roof

– a site in green belt failing planning

Lessons learned• Success partly because each green/transition group in North Somerset including

Steve’s, decided couldn’t do it independently.

• The collective of Low Carbon Gordano Community Group meant

– pool expertise/finance

– save on costs by using one community company

– Fund raising easier (more people aware of the project early and ready to invest)

• Another lesson learned is land is much easier to get agreements for

• Note! Double check what’s on the land

– we had to do a bomb survey

– spent a lot of time and money crossing a Government pipeline that wasn’t identified

A lesson learned for Solarsense

is not to construct in winter!

• Adds a lot to the costs to work in conditions like this

• extended labour time

• hire of pumps

• extra trench time

7,176 Solar Panels

1.83MWp Delivering 1,750MWh per year

Reducing CO2 Emissions by 850 Tonnes per year

To complete a project like this the key is:

• Quality control from start to finish

• Choosing a quality established company

• Choosing the correct products and suppliers that have been financially checked

• Tier 1

– Lot of products in this market that will not be around in a couple of years and your community scheme is for 20!

Next Community Project: Ham Lane

1MW Solar Park to be constructed this Summer

Share offer soon to be released

Renewable Energy Specialists

Multi-Award Winning Company Completed more than 10,000 Installations

Providing Trusted Advice and Installations for more than 20 Years

01275 461 800www.solarsense-uk.com