Green installation company Access Renewables has installed a 54-panel Solar PV system onto a church building in Eaglescliffe, Stockton On Tees which is expected to produce energy for the church over the next 25-30 years.

Solar panels have been installed onto the roof of All Saints Church on Dunotter Avenue, Eaglescliffe as part of a wider project which helps the local community save energy, money and carbon emissions. Members of the Community Action for Energy Eaglescliffe (CAfEE), an outreach group from the church, planned the solar installation alongside other initiatives in association with The Energy Saving Trust and Stockton Borough Council.

The project was successful in obtaining funding from the EDF Energy Green Fund, The Low Carbon Buildings Programme and the Congregational and General Insurance Charitable Trust following around two years of planning by churchwarden John Doherty.

Sean Collier of Access Renewables comments “We are delighted that the church is now generating their own power after a tough 18 months of raising funds by Mr Doherty. We have worked with him for quite some time to get this project off the ground, assisting with funding applications and working to install the system – which is believed to be the largest of its kind in Teesside. The system not only benefits the church by reducing electricity bills but also serves part of the wider community to promote climate change and energy issues – which is the overall aim of the CAfEE project.”

The installation team at Access Renewables installed fifty-four Sharp solar PV modules which should provide almost 8000kwh of electricity each year, and reducing 112 tonnes of CO2 emissions over the lifetime of the system. The company are also supplying a display unit which records these totals for all visitors and church users to see.

Mr Collier adds “This project is a great example of what can be achieved through community participation in energy issues. As the most local installer to the church, we are delighted that the installation was carried out by local labour and solar modules from a UK manufacturer.”