Dorking and surrounding villages now have over 600kW of solarPV installed on buildings. That’s over 2400 panels, generating over 630,000 units of electricity per year to power the buildings. So that is great progress. But there is so much more opportunity to generate local green energy.
We have identified the following buildings as ideal candidates to add SolarPV panels:
- Waitrose Shop, Dorking
- Priory School, Dorking
- Powell Corderoy Primary School, Dorking
- Lidl Store, Dorking
- Wickes DIY Store, Dorking
- St John’s Primary School, Dorking
- Dorking Hospital
- Dorking Halls (addition of solarPV is pending)
- British Telecom exchange building, London Road, Dorking
- Martin’s Church
- ESSO Garage, London Road, Dorking
- Nuffield Health / Aviva building, A24, Dorking (owned by SurreyCC)
- Taylor Place, Retirement Properties, London Road, Dorking
And the following properties that already have solarPV but could easily add more:
- Johnsons Sweepers (Bucher Municipal), Dorking
- Surrey FA Meadowbank football ground buildings, Dorking
- Thames Water, Dorking Sewage Treatment Works
- Dorking Sports Centre (addition of solarPV is pending)
- Denbies Vineyard buildings, Dorking
- Leatherhead sports centre (addition of more solarPV is pending)
All these buildings have a good daytime electricity demand and an appropriate roof for mounting solarPV panels. Instead of buying grid electricity mainly from overseas owned big energy companies, generate a majority of the electricity yourself. Typically the payback can be 6 to 7 years or less, and then it’s free electricity. Electricity prices have been increasing by over 6% per annum over last decade and that isn’t likely to get better. No complex government incentive payments are required anymore, because the cost of solarPV technology has plummeted.
Dorking Climate Emergency (DCE) will be writing to all these property owners to encourage them to do the right thing for the environment, for climate change and ultimately for their own business benefits. Please do also write to these businesses/property owners to encourage them to do the right thing regarding a sustainable future. And encourage other property owns to do the same.
We also call upon the MVDC and all Local Authority planning departments to require significant solarPV coverage on new and modified building roofs. Not just a mere 10% renewables as defined in an outdated core planning strategy document from 2009 (in the case of MVDC).
In particular, we want to shout out for Ashcombe School in Dorking for doing a fantastic job at rolling out solarPV on most of their buildings. Brilliant job.
