£10,000 worth of solar panels gifted to community project

Friday, 13 September 2024 08:20

The SunWorks team at SCOOP for the installation of the free solar panels

A community farm shop and kitchen has had £10,000 of solar panels installed for free to help towards its sustainability goals.

The panels have been given to SCOOP Sustainable Cooperative.

The installation is part of a giveaway by local energy company SunWorks for island community organisations and charities.

SCOOP was selected for a shortlist that was then put to a public vote.

The system is estimated to produce over 5,000 units of electricity, saving up to £1,000 a year.

Kaspar Wimberley, Director at SCOOP, said: "It ties in with what we're all about in terms of looking after the environment - so trying to use as much renewable energy as possible is a real plus for us.

"We will put the money that is saved back into the work we do, which is all about supporting local organic and regenerative growers in the island, reducing waste, (and) sharing our passion with everyone in Jersey to look at how we can use our diets as a really positive tool for conservation on the island."

"Thank you to all those who did vote for us, as well as a big thank you to SunWorks for making this opportunity possible."

Ben Spencer-Newman from SunWorks told us more about the motivation for the giveaway:

"We've been thinking for a few year of an initiative that we could do to assist the community. There's some amazing ones out there, but we wanted to do something that was unique to us.

"It's something we're all extremely proud of."

SunWorks says it is keen to run the giveaway again next year and hopes to get other businesses on board.