19 March 2009
A community farm in Merton Abbey has installed a new wind turbine, solar power and a boiler fuelled by locally sourced wood to generate green energy for the farm.
Deen City Farm, in Windsor Avenue, is reducing its impact on the environment using three renewable energy technologies to provide heating and power electrical equipment. The project will save the emission of about 10 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.
The project will be launched today (March 17) with a farm tour with children from Merton Abbey Primary School to explain the renewable energy systems, followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony by Councillor John Dehaney of Merton Council.
The systems cost just under £60,000 and have been funded by £24,700 from EDF Energy’s Green Fund, £20,250 from the Government’s Low Carbon Buildings Programme, £10,000 from Merton Council and £4,700 from the London Development Agency and Groundwork.
Electricity is being generated by a 12m-tall wind turbine along with 10 solar panels installed on the roof of the offices. The wood fuelled boiler provides central heating for the offices, café and classrooms using locally sourced wood, some from the farm itself.
The green energy systems will meet a third of the farm’s electricity needs and the majority of its heating requirements, saving the charity £1,000 on its energy costs. Live data will be displayed on a screen in the site’s discovery centre showing how much energy the systems are producing.
Ben Cheetham, the farm’s project manager, said: “We are very happy that we have got all the technology up and running. This will be another educational string to our bow. When children visit us now we can not only talk about where we get our meat, fruit and vegetables from but we can also talk about the environment. This project is a very visible reminder that these technologies are out there and increasingly available. We want to be a responsible community project and to achieve that we wanted to generate our own energy. If we hadn’t been given the grants by our supporters it would have been something that was unobtainable for us.”
Jo Steven, who leads EDF Energy’s Green Fund, said: “We were proud to support this project at Deen City Farm which we hope will encourage interest in renewable energy technology. The wind turbine, solar panels and wood fuelled boiler are exciting features at this community farm. We hope this project will leave a lasting legacy on the environment by increasing awareness about renewable energy and perhaps inspire visitors to consider how each of them can also take action to reduce their own impact on the environment. Not all of us can install wind turbines or solar panels but we can all reduce our carbon footprint.”
Deen City Farm gives people the opportunity to visit or contribute to a working farm. The urban community farm is home to a number of animals and birds, including goats, horses, chickens, ducks and geese, including some rare breeds. Attractions include a small farmyard, small pets area, riding school, pony rides, garden and school holiday events. The farm uses a significant amount of energy for heating, lighting, hot water and office equipment. Every year the farm welcomes an estimated 40,000 visitors, including 50 school groups. The new technology will form a central part of the lessons on the farm, demonstrating how renewable energy can help tackle climate change.
EDF Energy has awarded £3.7million to 221 renewable energy projects since the Green Fund was launched in 2001, including £1.3million to 89 projects in schools, nurseries and colleges. The fund supports renewable energy projects which produce power from the sun, wind, water and geothermal sources that reduce greenhouse gases linked to global warming. Awards of up to £30,000 are available for projects in Great Britain and such funds have helped schools, charities, local authorities, churches, water mills and other non-profit organisations to generate clean, green energy in their own community.
In June 2007 EDF Energy launched the biggest package of environmental pledges to reduce carbon emissions and help tackle climate change made by any major UK energy company. Our Climate Commitments ourvision.edfenergy.com outline the business transformation underway to reduce the impact of the company’s energy generation, transport, waste and home energy use. Key pledges include cutting the intensity of CO2 emissions from electricity production by 60 per cent by 2020 and reducing CO2 emissions from customers’ energy use by 15 per cent by 2020. Everyone can take part at: www.savetodaysavetomorrow.com
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For further information please contact Niamh Arnett, in the EDF Energy press office, on 01293 509153.
Notes to editors: 1. The combination of EDF Energy and British Energy forms one of the UK’s largest energy companies. The combined business is the UK’s largest producer of electricity. With a current installed capacity of around 16.5GW, we produce almost one-quarter of the nation's electricity from our nuclear, coal and gas power stations, as well as combined heat and power plants and wind farms. We provide power to a quarter of the UK’s population via our electricity distribution networks in London, the South East and the East of England and supply gas and electricity to over 5.5 million business and residential customers. Through Our Climate and Social Commitments we have launched the biggest environmental and social packages of any UK energy company.
The company is also a key player in national infrastructure projects including management of private electricity networks serving four London airports and the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, the country’s first major new railway in 100 years. EDF Energy and British Energy together employ nearly 20,000 people at locations across the UK. The combined companies are part of EDF Group, one of Europe’s largest power companies. EDF is the official energy utilities partner and sustainability partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
2. The Green Fund awards are possible through EDF Energy’s Green Tariff for consumers who decide to choose renewable energy for their home. Customers on the tariff pay less than £15 a year extra towards the Green Fund, which EDF Energy matches pound for pound.
Customers can choose renewable energy for their home by calling 0800 096 9696 and requesting information on EDF Energy’s Green Tariff. Each Green Tariff customer receives an energy efficiency pack including a free home energy survey, information on energy efficiency grants, energy efficiency advice and two low energy light bulbs which can save £18 per year on your electricity bill.