An Andover golf club has gone green to save electricity costs with a cutting-edge solar power scheme.
Renewable Energy Investments (REI) has installed a 30 kilowatt peak (kWp) solar photovoltaic (PV) system free of charge at Hampshire Golf Club.
It is one of a large number of installations being rolled out nationwide by REI in the coming months under its new Solar Power Purchase Scheme.
One of REI’s accredited installation partners spent five days fitting 120 high-performance solar PV panels on the driving range shelter and greenkeeper’s workshop.
Now the club will purchase clean, green electricity from REI at a heavily discounted rate before taking ownership of the system entirely in 20 years.
Toby Smith, projects director at Ringwood-based REI, said: “Our innovative Solar Power Purchase Scheme allows businesses such as the Hampshire Golf Club to make significant savings on their electricity bills from the outset, without tying up any of their own capital.”
“Since the solar PV system was installed, it has been generating 28 per cent of the club’s total electricity demand and we expect this figure to increase as the spring weather improves.”
He added: “Demand for this type of scheme is growing, as more and more businesses take the decision to preserve their capital for core business activities and allow REI to invest in solar technology on their behalf.”
“Clients can make the best use of their asset, their roof, to achieve significant savings whilst also playing their part in combating climate change by reducing their carbon footprint.”
The Hampshire Golf Club was founded in 1993 and is set in 240 acres of countryside in the Test Valley, near Andover.
The club will draw on electricity from the national grid when it demands more than the capacity of its solar PV system and at night. Any excess solar generation will be exported back to the national grid.
After 20 years, the club will take ownership of the system with free solar energy for the remaining life of the equipment – typically another 15 years.
The Hampshire Golf Club owner Jonathan Spencer said: “Toby and the REI team were extremely helpful. The installation itself was very quick and there was no disruption at all to the club, golfers or staff.”
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