Pictured: The team behind Stratford Hospital's new solar
power initiative, (l-r) Paul Hutchens, managing director,
Eco2Solar; Barbara Cooper, Chris Begg and Keith Sinfield from
Community Energy Warwickshire; Siobhan Hill, energy manager, South
Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust; Glen Burley, chief
executive, South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust
Kidderminster solar panel expert Eco2Solar has installed a solar
power array at Stratford upon Avon Hospital - the first time a
community-based renewable energy project has been installed at an
NHS site.
The innovative scheme has been put together by local energy
co-operative Community Energy Warwickshire and South Warwickshire
NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Stratford and Warwick Hospitals.
Eco2Solar was selected as project installer following a detailed
competitive tendering process organised by Community Energy
Warwickshire.
Over two dozen members of Community Energy Warwickshire joined
Eco2Solar managing director Paul Hutchens and South Warwickshire
NHS Foundation Trust Chief Executive Glen Burley just before
Christmas to celebrate the installation and discuss future plans.
The 10 kilowatt array at Stratford is the first phase of the
project, which will also see a further 50 kilowatts of solar power
installed at Warwick Hospital early in 2012.
Community Energy Warwickshire, which was set up by Warwickshire
residents to invest in renewable energy and help local communities
save energy, has already raised over £100,000 of its target
of £120,000 to fund the installations. The fifty-two Suntech
STP190S-24Ad+ panels installed at Stratford are expected to produce
over 8,000 kWh a year of renewable energy for the hospital.
Paul Hutchens, managing director of Eco2Solar, said: "We were
delighted to help Community Energy Warwickshire achieve their
target of completing the Stratford installation before the
Government's December 12 deadline for reductions in feed-in
tariffs. Eco2Solar deals with a number of community organisations
who are working together to ensure renewable energy plays a larger
role in their local area. We are also pleased to be able to help
South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust realise energy savings at a
time when public spending is under pressure."
Keith Sinfield, the Chair of Community Energy Warwickshire,
said: "Eco2Solar worked hard and efficiently to help us get the
Stratford installation completed on time. We are delighted our
innovative partnership with South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust
is already generating renewable energy and look forward to working
with the Trust on energy saving initiatives."