Mypower install first solar panel on Gloucester cathedral
The first of 150 solar panels has been installed today at Gloucester Cathedral. With the help of Rev'd Canon Celia Thomson, who laid the inaugural panel, Mypower will finish installing the solar panels in November ready for the big switch on and blessing during Evensong on the 21st November.
Mypower was featured in the main 7am news, an interview at 7.20am and then later a live interview from the cathedral at 8.20am.
As the Nave roof is 30 metres above the ground, all the solar panels will be virtually invisible from the surrounding area.
Mypower's managing partner Ben Harrison said:
"It's been fantastic to be involved in an important project like this that you can really put your heart and soul into and do the best possible job for the client "“ we've gained a huge amount of satisfaction from that.
"The historic nature of the building means we have encountered various issues to resolve but nothing that the team can't handle.
"All roofs will sag a bit over time but particularly when there's lead, which expands and contracts with changes in temperature and alters how the building sits, so that was one issue to which we had to attend."
"With a modern build, you can work to a drawing and know exactly how it's going to be, but with a 1,000-year-old building like the Cathedral you find twists and turns on the roof and undulations where it's sagged over the years."
"At times it's been extremely tight in terms of manoeuvrability around parts of the site, particularly when the work required us to work just inches away from centuries-old gargoyles, but we put strategies and measures in place to protect the building from any damage."
"We've been working hard as a team, alongside the Cathedral team, including their architect and structural engineers, ensuring that everything is completed to the highest quality and that the work is checked and re-checked."
"Working on Gloucester Cathedral has been a great challenge and one that we're thoroughly enjoying."
Rev'd Canon Celia Thomson said:
"The installation of solar panels on this remarkable building is a historic moment. We are thrilled that our vision to become a greener Cathedral is being fulfilled and proud to make a valuable contribution to the Church of England's Shrinking the Footprint campaign."
