Devon producing three times the amount of renewable energy compared to last year (From Mid Devon Star)

Devon producing three times the amount of renewable energy compared to last year

5:30pm Thursday 19th July 2012 in Devon

THE amount of renewable energy generated in Devon has tripled over the last year, a new report claims.

Carried out annually by independent experts Regen SW, the Renewable Energy Progress Rep-ort, which collects information on all known renewable electricity and heat projects in the South-West, reveals that the amount of energy being generated in the county has increased by an astounding 251.8%.

According to the report, the county’s installed renewable electricity capacity sat at 37.1 megawatts in 2011, and this has rocketed to 130.5MW for 2012.

Solar PV arrays reportedly make up much of the increased growth with 160MW of smaller-scale solar developments and 75MW of stand-alone solar parks installed in the South-West in the past year.

One Mid Devon faithful who has taken advantage of solar technology is Tiverton farmer Louise Down, who uses 10kW roof-mounted solar panels to help power her entire free-range chic-ken farm, which holds around 4,000 birds.

She said: “It’s ideal and means our farm’s now closer to being sustainable, which is something I’ve dreamed about for years.

“Our chickens are happy, healthy and free to roam around, and the fact that their barn is powered by renewable energy makes our business even more rewarding.”

Merlin Hyman, Regen SW chief executive, said: “This has been an exciting year for renewables, but it could be just the start.

“Renewable energy is the greatest economic opportunity of the decade: lead the way and we’ll enable great businesses to develop, flourish, and sell their technologies and skills around the world.”