Church solar s in trial to power nearby homes

A church in Knaresborough is taking part in a trial in which 91 solar s on its roof could help power nearby homes and businesses, including the fire station.

The scheme will see the newly-installed s divert any excess energy to the local community, rather than return it to the National Grid.

It is part of a wider trial, commissioned by energy regulator Ofgem, testing how renewable energy generated in local neighbourhoods can be shared more fairly.

The Reverend Gordon Hay, of Gracious Street Methodist Church, said: "The idea that we could share some of that energy with our neighbours – people who live or work just around the corner – feels like exactly what a church should be doing."

There are 78 homes and small businesses on the same local electricity circuit as the church, including the town's fire station, and the aim is to ensure that clean, affordable energy can benefit them all.

The overall scheme, which includes similar initiatives at two other local sites, is being led by Knaresborough Community Energy.

Mr Hay said: "It started with of the congregation asking, 'what more can we do":[]}