South Hill Association for Renewable Energy
Community Group
Fundraising
We are pleased to announce that SHARE has been shortlisted for funding from the M&S Energy Community Energy Fund. This year £300,000 will be awarded to support renewable energy projects and technologies across the UK. Last year 25 projects received funding, and this year we hope to earn our share.
The project we are proposing is to install a Tesla Powerwall 2 energy store at the Parish Hall to take full advantage of the roof-top solar PV system. At present, this is only of direct use to Hall users during the day, and excess generation is exported to the National Grid. With batteries, energy could be stored and used during the evenings too. This is particularly exciting in view of the recent announcement by the government that they plan to support the further development of battery technology for this purpose.
The judges base their decisions partly on the merit of the project, but also on support from the public. The voting and crowdfunding stage will take place in September and October. Our fund –raiser, Astrid Fischer, has just started working on the next stage of the M&S bid. A small team is already helping her to expand support for our project. If you are able to help please step forward.
AGM – Thursday September 21st 2017, 7:30pm
The SHARE AGM will be held in the Parish Hall meeting room. The Agenda will be circulated to all SHARE members in advance of the meeting, together with any relevant reports.
In addition to the formal AGM, we are planning to make the evening a more social occasion. Wine and cheese has been suggested! If you have any other ideas, please get in touch.
Annual update on PV installations
Both of our solar installations continue to perform well. At the end of June 2017 the Parish Hall system has been in place for two years, and the Church Park system for one year. We are therefore in a position to report to our members in a meaningful way on their progress so far. The highlights are below, and a full report will be sent to all members by email.
PARISH HALL
This is a 3.9kW domestic-scale system installed on the Hall roof in June 2015, jointly owned by SHARE and the Parish Hall committee. The system was paid for by the Parish Hall committee and the Parish Council, using community benefit money received from the operators of Trefinnick solar farm.
Total generation from installation to the end of June 2017 was 7241kWh. This exceeds the installers’ prediction by 9%.
CHURCH PARK
This is a 40kW system installed on agricultural buildings at South Hill in June 2016, owned by SHARE and paid for with loans from members at 4% annual interest.
36014kWh were generated in Year 1 (to the end of June 2017). The system has exceeded expectations by 8%.
The first annual interest payments have been made to member investors in July 2017.
If you are not yet a member of SHARE, or would like more information, please visit www.south-hill.co.uk/share to see our Rules and Aims or phone Peter our secretary 01579 208519 or email share@south-hill.co.uk