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Wedmore Green Group

working together as a community to reduce our environmental impact

Renewable Energy


Producing your own electricity or hot water can be a great way of reducing your carbon footprint (although it should always follow installing as much insulation as practical into your house).

If you would like help or advice on any aspect of renewable energy then look at the relevant section in the useful links above or else email Steve Mewes on

In 2007 we purchased, as a group, some solar water panel equipment achieving considerable cost savings. We are expanding the scheme this year, please find details below of the 2008 scheme. We have also produced some info sheets on many aspects of renewable energy,  links are at the bottom of the page.

Renewable Energy Systems – Do you wish to proceed with an installation? 

Towards the end of the Renewable Energy Meeting organised by TASS and WGG in Shapwick on Tuesday, 1 July someone expressed the thought that the one of the intentions of the meeting was to identify a group of potential customers and try to negotiate a “bulk purchase” discount.  Since then other people have expressed a similar view so we are endeavouring to do just that for anyone who has serious intentions of installing a renewable energy system and has the capital to invest now.  The approximate range of costs, dependent on so many individual factors and requirements, for the various systems given in the information sheets previously emailed to people and were available at the meeting are:

 

Biomass:       

Wood Pellet Gasification Boiler - £10 000 to £25 000

Log Gasification Boiler - £5 000 to £25 000

 

Ground Source Heat Pumps: £12 000 upwards

 

Micro-Hydro Power: £15 000 upwards

 

Solar Photovoltaics:

£4 000 to £8 000 for a panel of area 8m2 producing 1kw 

 

Solar Thermal – Hot water:  

Installed - £3 500 to £4 500

DIY Equipment purchase - £2 000 to £3 000

 

Wind Turbine:           5kW - £20 000

                                    11kW - £38 000

 

If you wish to proceed with an installation and currently have the money to invest please let one of us know and we will, with the scrutiny of the TASS/WGG Renewable Energy Group, endeavour to help all concerned.  We need to know the following details:

  1. name
  2. address
  3. telephone number
  4. email address
  5. which system (or systems) you wish to install
  6. the date from when you would be ready for an installation
  7. whether you want a “one stop shop” equipment and installation package or whether you wish to buy just the equipment and self install your chosen system
  8. any other relevant information
 

Depending on the number of people interested we will endeavour to reduce the costs as much as possible through bulk purchasing.  However, individual circumstances can drastically affect the cost of some of these products.

 

You will have received “junk mail” correspondence from companies advertising Solar Thermal installations.  No doubt you will have received some “cold callers” from similar companies.   Do be wary of the claims they make, the incentives they offer and whether or not they are accredited by the “BERR Low Carbon Buildings Programme”.  Invariably they will be much more expensive.  You need to ensure that the companies will support you in an application for a grant.  In seeking a grant you will need to show that you have done as much as you can to make your property as energy efficient as possible.  We will deal only with accredited suppliers and installers.

 

Whilst being very willing to undertake this task we do so under the following conditions:

 
  • We are not experts but we have had experience of installing some of the renewable energy systems.
  • We are not agents for any companies but we have experience of some installers and suppliers that we would thoroughly recommend.
  • We are aware, through the experience of others, of companies that would provide a satisfactory service.
  • We would recommend that you have more than one quotation.
  • The customer has to make the decision regarding the company with whom they wish to undertake a contract.
  • If you have a quotation from a company that has posted “junk mail” through your letter box or engaged in “cold calling” do get a quotation from one of the suppliers listed on the fact sheets provided by the TASS/WGG Renewable Energy Group.  We will happily share reasons with you should you wish to know.
  • We will not accept any liability or responsibility for any outcome.  We have not had first hand experience of all of the installers and suppliers listed in the information sheets but some of them are recommended by TASS/WGG.
  • The names of local people having renewable energy systems are willing to demonstrate the benefits to those who interested to find out from first hand experience.
  • We will take no responsibility for any outcome beyond co-ordinating and communicating.
  

If you would like to be involved in this exercise do let us know by 30 September 2008 and we will do our best for you. 

 

Mike Beale                

TASS, 19 Orchard Way, Shapwick, Bridgwater, Somerset.TA7 9NU

01458 210524  

 

Steve Mewes

WGG, Lands End Farm House, Heath House, Wedmore, Somerset. BS28 4UQ

01934 710530 

 

Should wish to receive the renewable energy fact sheets by email please do contact either of us.  

 Acronyms explained: 

TASS – Towards a Sustainable Shapwick

 

WGG – Wedmore Green Group

 

BERR – Department for Business Enterprise & Regulatory Reform

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