Monmouthshire County Council and the Gwent Energy Community Interest Company will host a drop-in event to exhibit options for solar panels and other types of renewable energy in community buildings. To be held on Wednesday 19th October (2 to 7 pm). at Llanddewi Rhydderch Village Hall near Abergavenny, this event will be of particular interest to people running village halls, church halls or sports clubs.
Renewable energy equipment installers and organisations will be available to discuss which buildings are suitable, give an idea of cost and outline the payback period.
The Government’s Feed In Tariff (FIT) pays installers of solar panels up to 43.3p for every kilowatt hour generated, as well as 3p for each unit exported to the national grid, with the benefit of the free electricity generated. The FIT is index-linked and guaranteed for 25 years, so solar power has become a financially viable and attractive option giving local community groups a steady income over a long period to help with maintenance and other costs.
St Arvans Memorial Hall near Chepstow and Pandy Village Hall to the north of Abergavenny have already installed solar panels while Bridges Community Centre in Monmouth will soon follow suit.
A number of options exist for community groups unable to fund renewable energy equipment. Staff from Monmouthshire County Council will attend the drop-in session to give details about a loan scheme for community halls and a “rent-a-roof” scheme for solar panels. The Gwent Energy Company will also be present to explain their funding options.
Giles Howard, Cabinet Member for Culture and Environment said: “Monmouthshire County Council is looking at lots of imaginative ways of reducing our carbon emissions through our Green Deal programme and we are keen to do all we can to help community groups do the same.”
For more information contact Hazel Clatworthy, Sustainability Community Officer on 01633 644843 or [email protected]
