Jersey accelerates solar rooftop revolution with public building strategy
The Government of Jersey and Jersey Electricity are to deliver a programme of rooftop solar PV installations across a range of government-owned properties.
Jersey Property Holdings (JPH) and Jersey Electricity have used JPH’s mapping facility to identify key public buildings where rooftop solar could potentially be built, subject to structural surveys. JE will project manage, design, install and maintain the solar installations, with the renewable power being distributed across the island.
The energy supplier said that schools represent a significant opportunity, but car parks, depot buildings and other civic premises will also be considered. Detailed surveys will then be commissioned, to allow the first location to be launched this year and a long-term programme agreed.
Andy Jehan, Jersey’s Minister for Infrastructure, said,
Reaching this agreement is a significant moment for locally-generated renewable power using public properties. Government has a responsibility to lead on sustainability and deliver value for our Island; ensuring that energy produced from our buildings benefits the community is central to that commitment.”
Chris Ambler, CEO of Jersey Electricity, added that the rooftop solar programme had taken time to come to fruition, but would provide a welcome boost to the Island’s electricity generation:
We often hear customers asking for more rooftop solar on public buildings, so we believe this will be welcome news for many. Rooftop solar has a significant role to play in reaching the Island’s sustainability objectives, as well as contributing to JE’s Solar 5000 ambition.”
The Solar 5000 initiative to power 5000 homes by 2030 with locally generated power includes a target of delivering 11 MW of rooftop solar – with around 4 MW already generating power for the grid.
Powering 5000 homes is the equivalent of generating 36MWp of electricity, which is enough to power around 10% of housing in Jersey, the utility said. Solar currently accounts for less than 0.5% of Jersey’s current energy generation, so achieving the Solar 5000 ambition would increase it to 6.5% of the energy share, all generated locally.
