SOLAR POWER

Please let us know about local companies you have received good service from. Send a report here.

Information you send will be kept strictly confidential.

HIGH TOWER - SUN POWER.

ICONIC CIS TOWER A TIMELY REMINDER OF THE NEED TO TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE

Co-operative Financial Services (CFS) was today (18 May) celebrating the completion of the iconic Co-operative Insurance (CIS) Solar Tower that it hopes will act as a timely reminder of the need to tackle climate change.
 
The work to cover the 400 ft service tower of the landmark building in the centre of Manchester is now complete and all 7,000 photovoltaic panels are feeding electricity into the building.

The solar panels will create 180,000 units of renewable electricity each year - enough energy to make nine million cups of tea.

David Anderson, Chief Executive of Co-operative Financial Services (CFS), said: “This is an important high profile project which I hope will remind Mancunians, and visitors to the city, of the importance of tackling climate change.

“The CIS Tower which is grade II listed, is now more than 40 years old and the small mosaic tiles that clad the service tower of the building needed replacing and solar panels are the ideal solution. They will not only protect the tower from the elements but will also enhance its appearance and generate significant amounts of renewable energy, regardless of the weather.”

Bryan Gray, Chairman of the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), said: “The NWDA is working hard to ensure that the Northwest is a pioneering region for sustainable development and we were delighted to provide support for this groundbreaking project, which demonstrates the Agency’s commitment to tackling climate change in the region.

“It is vital that we work to promote renewable energy and energy efficient solutions in order to meet national and regional targets in this area. The Northwest is a region known for its leadership and this project highlights that as climate change continues to move up the political agenda, the Northwest is yet again leading the way for the rest of the UK.”

Work commenced in 2004 on the ambitious £5.5m project which was supported by a £885,000 grant from the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and a £175,000 grant from the Department of Trade & Industry. The groundbreaking initiative was pioneered by Solar Century, the UK's leading solar photovoltaics (PV) company.

Related links...