Guernsey Electricity and Guernsey Post have announced plans for what would be the largest solar array in the Channel Islands, capable of producing around 200,000 kWh of electricity each year.
Guernsey Post chief executive Boley Smillie said the company has made a commitment to move to an all-electric delivery fleet by the end of 2019.
‘I am very excited about the significance of this partnership with Guernsey Electricity,’ he said.
‘The prospect of an entirely electric vehicle fleet, the elimination of exhaust emissions and helping generate our vehicle energy requirements by solar power is within our grasp, it is no longer just an aspiration.
‘Our investment in electric vehicles has been a real success [Guernsey Post will have 40 in its fleet by the end of the year]. Both maintenance and running costs are significantly lower than that of the fossil fuel alternatives.
‘The positive impact on the environment is also significant. To put this into perspective, the benefit of an electric vehicle fleet rather than diesel means we will avoid producing more than 150 tonnes of carbon a year.’
The plans for Guernsey Post’s Envoy House headquarters follow a similar project at the power station, which saw more than 300 solar panels installed on one of its roofs.
GE chief executive Alan Bates said the installation at Envoy House will be twice the size of that solar array, demonstrating that the use of commercial scale solar PV arrays works in the local market.
‘We believe that all islanders should benefit in an equitable way from developments in the energy sector. This commercial scale solar array will feed into the island’s network, so everyone can benefit from a higher percentage of renewable energy,’ he said.
‘Not everyone can afford to install their own array, but through this partnership with Guernsey Post we are enabling the island to diversify its energy supply on behalf of all islanders.
‘The cost of large scale solar PV is now comparable with our other generation and provides additional security and independence of supply for the island and our customers.’
Subject to planning approvals, there will be a tender process and it is hoped that the installation of the solar array at Guernsey Post will take place in the first half of 2019.
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