Solar project at Bodenham Arboretum marks major step to cut carbon emissions

Installation of new solar panels at a Worcestershire attraction, fitted by Shrewsbury based ESP Energy, is expected to cut CO2 emissions by 34 tons per year.

A total of 292 solar roof panels that will generate 162 kilo watts per hour or 135,000 kilo watts annually, have been installed at Bodenham Arboretum at Wolverley, Kidderminster.

To mark completion of the project, Wyre Forest MP Mark Garnier ‘cut the ribbon’ in the ‘control room’ on June 12 - cheered on by pupils from Cookley and Wolverley Sebright Primary Schools, who were given a lesson in the conversion of sunlight to energy.

Sam Binnian, third-generation family co-owner of the visitor centre and farm business, said the successful project was made possible by bringing specialist teams together to ensure a harmonious outcome with minimum disruption.

Bodenham appointed Shrewsbury based ESP Energy to design and install the system, while National Grid was responsible for the connection to three-phase electricity - a constant, higher-power supply.

Mr Binnian said: “The adoption of a renewable energy source bolsters our energy efficiency and reduces our carbon footprint and reliance on the grid which depends on fossil fuels to generate energy.”

According to ESP Energy, Bodenham’s system will cut Bodenham’s CO2 emissions by 34 tons per year.

Over its lifetime of 25 years, it is also predicting the energy saved will be the equivalent of just over 1,000,000 km of car travel or 718 long haul flights. Alternatively, it will have had the same benefit of having planted just under 6,500 trees.

Visitors will be able to see a dedicated display in the visitor centre showing energy generation, consumption and grid export in real time.