Listed Victorian Mill Transformed Into Solar Power Station
A listed Victorian cotton mill in Oldham has become
probably the first in the country to switch to solar energy in a project that
aims to revitalise the best of industrial age architecture with cutting edge
green energy.
Solar energy specialists Sundog Energy overcame strict
English Heritage requirements and significant wind loading challenges on the
five-storey Devon Mill, which was
completed in 1908 when Lancashire led the world in textile production, to transform it into what is thought to be
the largest roof-top solar power station in the North of England.
The 143.3 kWp solar PV installation is the equivalent of
30 typical household systems. Over 600 Trina Solar TSM-PC05 235W
Multicrystalline solar PV modules produce enough power to generate 110MWh of
electricity per year (and saving around 65 tonnes of COâ‚‚), enough to service
the 220,000 sq. ft. mill building "“ with power to spare for export to the
National Grid. Three 50kW SolarMax inverters from leading Swiss manufacturer
Sputnik Engineering facilitate connection to the grid.
Now Sundog and Baum Trading, the owners of Devon Mill,
believe they have a blueprint for converting other similar businesses, and are
working together to convince them to switch to solar. The Devon Mill
installation will be developed into a demonstration centre for potential
customers.
Bill Roberts, Managing Director of Sundog Energy said:
"This highly-successful installation proves the viability of solar energy for
historic commercial buildings with the roof space. An installation of this type
gives payback in eight years or less. The solar PV system will last for
decades. It's been built to last, with future generations in mind "“ like the
mill itself."
He added: "There are many businesses using these
magnificent old mill buildings, and it goes without saying that they should
consider solar energy. "
For Devon Mill, Sundog used its expertise gained from
complex installations on other historic sites, including the grade 1 listed
Kings Cross Station in London; grade 2 listed London Transport Museum, and
500-year-old Bradford Cathedral "“ what is thought to be the first in the
country to go English Heritage restrictions precluded penetration of the roof
so a ballasted system was used, carefully computed to be heavy enough to handle
the significant wind-loading, and with a footprint designed to spread the
weight and safeguard the roof membrane.
Sundog had a race against time to complete the
installation within the timeframe dictated by the Government's reduction in the
Feed-in Tariff. The team was determined that Devon Mill would become a landmark
solar power installation from day one.
Peter Weidenbaum of Baum Trading said: "I was delighted
to see the meter running backwards when we first turned the system on. Our
Victorian forebears would have admired it "“ we are keeping the business
competitive as well as helping to protect the environment. To me, it makes
perfect sense for other businesses to capitalise on their grand Victorian
roof-space in this way."
