OPUS helps YHN Go Green

Posted: 15/11/2011

North East based renewable energy company OPUS Green are underway with a £1.9m contract with Your Homes Newcastle (YHN) to install rooftop solar energy systems on over 30 of the housing blocks they manage.

The contract to design, supply, install and commission solar photovoltaic installations (solar panels) includes 30 buildings across Newcastle city centre, stretching across a number of housing estates in Elswick, Kenton, Shieldfield and Newburn.

Solar electricity systems capture the sun's energy using photovoltaic (PV) cells. The cells convert the sunlight into electricity, which can be used to run electrical appliances and lighting.

The installation of solar panels will lower YHN’s carbon footprint and also generate revenue under the Government’s clean energy cash back scheme also known as Feed In Tariff (FITs). FITs allows members of the public, businesses and local authorities who install solar PV panels on their roof to receive cash for every unit of electricity they generate, regardless of whether or not they use the electricity.

Earlier this month OPUS Green used an 80 Tonne crane to lift 260 solar panels onto the rooftops of the first three multi storey blocks of flats in Elswick. Managing Director of OPUS Green Chris Cassells who was on site to oversee the operations said:

“Close collaboration with YHN and their residents has helped us meet the logistical challenges of installing approximately 260 solar panels and associated equipment onto the rooftops of three blocks of flats of up to 5 floors in Newcastle. 

Careful planning together with structural and electrical appraisals had to be undertaken to ensure the systems complimented rather than compromised the environment they were being installed in.

“This is a great example of a Council taking a proactive approach to reduce their Carbon footprint by installing renewable energy solutions. This is one of the first large commercial solar schemes in the region and we are confident tenants will notice the environmental benefits of installing Solar PV.”

John Lee, Chief Executive of Your Homes Newcastle, said “The introduction of feed in tariffs (FiT’s) has made it cost effective for us to install solar photovoltaic (PV) panels onto the roofs of properties. We are looking to install them on about 1000 properties in the next two years. This will help to reduce our customers’ expenditure on energy, in turn reducing the number of tenants living in fuel poverty.”

OPUS Green were appointed following a competitive tender process, which included assessments of value for money, contractor experience, quality procedures, and the ability to complete the project in the required timescales.

OPUS Green have also recently been selected for the Pro 5 procurement framework, which is a select register of companies who will handle business totalling £250m to £750m between now and 2015. Being on this register means that they will be the preferred supplier for any public sector organisation across the UK wishing to install solar panels on their buildings.

Due to the continued growth of the business OPUS Green has recently moved into larger premises at Newcastle Business Village, near Longbenton, North Tyneside, which includes 750,000 sq ft of warehousing facilities.

For further information on OPUS Green visit www.opus-green.co.uk.

For further information on Your Homes Newcastle visit www.yhn.org.uk.