The installation, which will cover 3,200m2 of roof space and will feed directly to the grid, will be the third largest installation of JE’s eight rooftop solar arrays and will alone power the equivalent of nearly 70 homes for the next 25 years. Electric vehicle chargers will also be installed for Ports and its business partners as part of Ports’ commitment to low carbon transport.
When complete, the total locally-generated renewable electricity from JE’s commercial rooftop solar will grow to more than 2 MWp, the equivalent of more than 300 homes.
Ports of Jersey’s Chief Executive, Matt Thomas, said: “I am delighted that we have gone into partnership with Jersey Electricity on this project, to provide the Island with more locally-generated renewable energy.
“This project is a key initiative to deliver the targets set out in our Planet and People Plan, where we have committed to become one of the first UK airports to reach net zero in our operations. We know that we cannot undertake our sustainability journey alone and we will continue to develop partnerships that help us harness technology to meet the targets in the government’s Carbon Neutral Roadmap.”
Jersey Electricity’s CEO Chris Ambler said, “Jersey Electricity and Ports of Jersey both have important roles in proactively helping the Island to achieve its long-term sustainability goals. We are committed to the Island’s net zero journey by facilitating more on-Island renewable energy and developing the electricity grid to fully deliver a low carbon energy system.
“The development of rooftop solar in Jersey remains a cornerstone of JE’s solar strategy, which promises to socialise local renewable energy for the benefit of the whole community. Combined with selected ground-mount solar projects, we expect to see a meaningful increase in locally-generated renewable energy to the grid in 2025, supporting our ambition to power 5000 homes through locally-harnessed solar power by 2030, for at least the next 25 years. These projects help to build energy independence through the development of on-Island renewables which is an important feature of both the Island Plan and Carbon Neutral Roadmap.
“We are in discussions with several local business partners and are keen to speak to more businesses interested in partnering with us on other roof solar schemes.”
JE and Ports of Jersey have signed a 25-year lease with work expected to start in spring this year.
When the Island’s first ground-mount solar farm in St Clement is commissioned, locally-generated renewable power will be boosted by a further 4 MWp, enough to power 14% of the Parish’s homes – nearly 650 properties over the next 40 years.
