Solar so good

Peter Weidenbaum on the panel-covered roof

Victorian mill harnesses power of the sun
AN iconic Victorian mill has turned to solar power to beat soaring power costs.

The five-storey Devon Mill, in Chapel Road, Hollinwood now boasts the biggest roof-top solar panel arrray in the North-West.

Its 40,000 sq ft roof has been covered with 610 solar panels specially designed and fitted by Penrith-based Sundog Energy.

The panels will produce enough power to generate 110 MWh of electricity a year — or around 80 per cent of the mill’s consumption. And it is good for the environment too — reducing emmisions of greenhouse gas carbon dioxide by 65 tonnes a year.

Not only will the panels provide enough renewable energy to light the former cotton mill and power fashion wholesaler Baum Trading, based inside the building, during the day, but there will be sparepower to feed into the National Grid.

Mill owners David Weidenbaum and Nandas Varsani devised the idea but it is David’s 79-year-old father Peter Weidenbaum who, as project manager, has turned the dream into reality.

Peter said: “I was delighted to see the meter running backwards when we first turned the system on!

“I don’t see why we should pay increasing electricity bills when power can be free.

“To me, it makes perfect sense for other businesses in the North-West to capitalise on their grand Victorian roof-space and join us in turning the region into the most energy-efficient in the country.”

The great-grandfather started looking into the possibility of the solar panels last February.

He said: “I’d not done anything with regards to solar energy before, it was a learning curve.

“After contacting 11 companies, we selected Sundog and created a joint venture.

“They have the solar power expertise and we have access to other mill owners in the area.

“The operation doesn’t cover the whole of our electricity consumption, more around 80 per cent, but we have to run it for a year to see how well its works and we are aiming for almost 100 per cent.

“We can’t store the electricity so anything we don’t need, we sell back to the National Grid.”

He added: “When you look at the size of the mill, your first thought is ‘how can you run the company effectively?”

“The solar panels are certainly helping and we believe we have a good case for other mills to learn from our experience.”

Bill Roberts, managing director of Sundog Energy said: “I was born close to this mill, and I am delighted to have worked on this outstanding example of building sustainability combining the proud heritage of our industrial past with cutting edge solar technology.”

The Devon Mill installation will now be developed into a regional demonstration centre for potential customers, with similar schemes costing in the region of £200,000.

The joint venture will be officially launched on March 9 with special guests including Oldham Deputy Mayor Councillor Olwyn Chadderton and MP Michael Meacher.