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10
WQ.242/2020
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE BY DEPUTY R.J. WARD OF ST. HELIER
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 30th JUNE 2020
Question
Will the Minister advise –
- what percentage of the roof space of the new Les Quennevais School will be covered by solar panels;
- what plans, if any, there are to enlarge this coverage in order to increase the generation of electricity both for the school and for the local population; and
- whether this incorporation of solar panels, and the resultant generation of electricity, will be considered as an investment for infrastructure projects during the Island's recovery from Covid-19 as a means of improving Jersey's sustainability for the future?
Answer
- The North Facing pitches are not suitable areas for PVs. Of the best and useable1050m2 of South Facing Pitched Roof 15% of it (160m2) has been used.
- Further deployment of PV is expected as the technology of the systems and efficiency of energy generation improves and the cost effectiveness of the equipment makes it increasingly affordable.
- Improving sustainability is a central ambition of the government and the GHE department. Solar power is often difficult to justify on a purely commercial basis as the power produced is not always consistent and the "buy back" and "stand by" rates are not always favourable commercially, however, renewable energy in a variety of sources is routinely considered for all projects, and indeed the new Les Quennevais school also has 11 Air Source Heat pumps installed to augment the climate control.
From an environmental standpoint on buildings with say, a 20 year plus lifespan, solar panels may well make good sense. Designing solar into a new build is easier and more cost effective than retrofitting solar to old buildings.