Sunny outlook for Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service headquarters
Total benefits of over £17 500 a year are expected by Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service from a 47 kW solar PV installation on the flat roofs of its headquarters building in Winsford. The benefits will be made up of an annual reduction of £3500 a year in electricity bills and an annual FiT payment of over £14 000, index linked. Total savings over the next 25 years will be around £655 000.
The system was installed by Phoenix Renewable Technologies and comprises 192 Suntech panels connected to five Kaco Powador inverters. The panels are mounted on frames at an angle of 15°. It is estimated that the system will generate over 41 MWh a year.
Following the successful completion of this project, Phoenix was awarded two more installations at Winsford and Runcorn fire stations. They are expected to generate £235 000 over 25 years.
The Winsford project has a peak power output of 10 kW and an annual energy output of nearly 9 MWh.
Richard Ost, assistant chief fire officer, said, ‘These installations demonstrate the strength of our commitment in reducing the impact the organisation has on the environment.’
