It would be possible to install 20 Acres of Solar PV on Grimsby’s factory roofs and brownfield sites. That’s the claim of the Enrolled Freemen of Grimsby, supported by RSA East Midlands.

Since 2010, Freeman Street market building has had solar PV installed. More than 90% of the energy provided by the panels is used at the market, and now, the Enrolled Freemen have decided to invest in additional panels. The aim is to share excess energy generated with the community rather than sending the energy back to the National Grid.

Following the successful work done on the Freeman Street Market Building, interest is now on 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 that cater for the offshore projects.

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

On Friday 5 September, a free public workshop will be hosted at the Business and Digital Hub at Freeman Street Market from 10am to 4pm to discuss the possibilities of setting up an energy company or cooperative in Grimsby for the benefit of local businesses and residents. The possibilities of using factory roofs and brownfield sites will be put forward for discussion, as well as other low cost technologies, such as rainwater harvesting.

If you would like to attend, book through http://rsagrimsbyenergy.eventbrite.co.uk, or contact Richard Bellamy [email protected] for more information.