Uplyme: Water treatment works powered by the sun (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)
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Uplyme: Water treatment works powered by the sun
12:30pm Wednesday 18th April 2012 in News
Energy from the sun is being harnessed to help power Uplyme’s water and sewage treatment works. South West Water has installed solar panels at the site as part of an initiative to reduce the company’s carbon footprint.
There are 261 panels, covering an area about one-fifth the size of a football pitch, which have the potential to generate 50 kilowatts of energy, or enough to power 50 homes.
The installation last month of the photovoltaic (PV) cells brings to 223 the number of sets of panels at similar sites across the region. James Pearce, Project Manager for South West Water’s H5O partnership, said: “The solar panels are part of South West Water’s drive to reduce its carbon footprint and help combat climate change.
“The company already operates hydro-electric and biogas plants and a wind turbine, and the new solar panels will help to further develop our renewable energy capability.
“Generating renewable energy for use on South West Water’s operational sites reduces electricity costs and will have a positive impact on customers’ bills in the future.”
The power generated by the panels will be used to help power the treatment works with the savings from the reduction in electricity purchased from the national grid and the income from the feed-in tariff will help to keep energy costs down at each site.
