New roof mounted solar system now powering Gorfin Hall

Exmouth Town Council has announced that Gorfin Hall, its well-used community hall in Claremont Lane, is now being powered by solar electricity, thanks to a new roof mounted solar system.

Councillor Frank Cullis, chairman of the Gorfin Hall management Committee, said: "The hall has a large south-facing roof and is ideally situated to take full advantage of solar power so the committee decided to invest in a sustainable energy system in order to reduce the hall's carbon

footprint, reduce future electricity bills and generate an income through the feed-in tariff, which is paid for exporting electricity to the grid.

"Sixteen solar panels form a 5.36 kwp photovoltaic system, with annual savings of £750 and an estimated payback of seven years, based on predicted performance and feed-in tariff calculations."

He added: "The solar panels were installed by Ivybridge-based company ECO NRG Ltd."

The project follows the declaration of a Climate Emergency by Exmouth Town Council in June 2019 and the subsequent formation of a Climate Change Task and Finish Forum.

The Climate Change Task and Finish Forum has recommended a strategy and action plan for the town council with the aim of reducing the council's overall carbon footprint and establishing it as a community leader in tackling the climate change crisis.