Grimsby plan to exploit up to 40 acres of our skyline to power region

PLANS are afoot to exploit the estimated 20 to 40 acres of roof space across the North East Lincolnshire skyline for renewable energy.

The Enrolled Freemen of Grimsby, which owns and operates the Freeman Street Market, has revealed plans to "strengthen" the area's onshore renewables industry.

Low-carbon footprint initiatives, including rainwater harvesting, an air to water heat exchanger and solar panels, provide 30 per cent of the electricity the market requires.

And the group believes there are acres of available space for solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on factory roofs in the town.

Greenfield agricultural sites have been highlighted for solar energy installations across the UK but, according to the Freemen, many that feel that brownfield sites could be an even better solution.

The group will assess the project feasibility and the creation of a Grimsby Energy Company to oversee the project, and will hold an introduction event next month.

Richard Bellamy, trustee of the Enrolled Freemen of Grimsby, said: "Following the successful work done on the Freeman Street Market building, interest now is how the very successful Offshore Renewable Energy Project can be strengthened by an onshore project, to really cement Grimsby as a low carbon base using the specialist technology available to us by the specialist companies already here to cater for the offshore projects.

"In Grimsby, Cleethorpes and Immingham, we have many acres of factory roofs, under which businesses are using large amounts of energy.

"At Freeman Street Market we use more than 90 per cent of the energy that we generate from our initial PV systems and it would seem possible to put together an interesting project to work with factory owners to install solar onto many of the roofs, giving attractive financial and environmental benefits."

The suggestion is that between 20 and 40 acres of PV on local factory roofs and brownfield sites could save the businesses underneath more than 20 years worth of energy costs – with no upfront investment.

The introduction event takes place on Friday, September 5 between 10am and 4pm at the Business and Digital Hub, in Freeman Street Market.

Places must be booked in advance by logging onto http://rsagrimsbyenergy.eventbrite.co.uk or by contacting Richard Bellamy on 07831 373703 or e-mail rbellamy@britserve.com