Number 10 – Beer
The Ouse Valley Energy Service Company (Ovesco)
is one of the offshoots of Transition Lewes focused on the installation
of renewables in and around the town as well as promoting energy
conservation and local economic resilience. In 2011 it took on its most
exciting and ambitious project to date installing a 98kW solar
photovoltaic array on the roof of local brewery, Harveys. This will turn
the building into one of the first community-owned solar power stations
in the country.
The 544 photovoltaic (PV) panels will generate 93,000kWh of green electricity each year – enough to save more than 40 tonnes of CO2 annually. A community share launch event took place in April 2011 attended by 300 people. Within five weeks the target of £307,000 had been reached. Money invested will be repaid in full at the end of the 25 year scheme, or earlier at the request of the investor and subject to conditions. While the investment is held a dividend will be paid after the first year which is expected to be around 4%.
Our object is a bottle of ‘Sunshine Ale‘, a special commemorative beer brewed to celebrate the launch of the scheme. Very nice it is too.
Now we want sunshine ale a scale with support for OVESCO’s 17MW community solar project Ouse Valley Solar Farm 🙂