Renewable energy

The use of Renewable Energy can help the environment by replacing our reliance on fossil fuels. When fossil fuels are burnt they produce carbon dioxide which is one of the gases that causes the greenhouse effect. Renewable energy is energy generated from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are are naturally replenished.

Wirral Council has so far supported a number of renewable energy projects within the borough:

Europa Pools – Solar Hot Water

The Solar Water Heating scheme at Europa Pools is now operational. Solar water heating systems can be used for domestic water heating as well as larger scale applications for business and the community, including swimming pools. Solar water heating systems use solar panels, called collectors, fitted to a roof. These collect heat from the sun and use it to warm water, which is stored in a hot water cylinder.

Clare Mount Sports College – Solar Energy

Clare Mount Specialist Sports College in Moreton, is fitted with a solar electricity generating system, operational since April 2008. The system uses 24 photovoltaic modules mounted on the roof of the school hall. The system has a peak rating of 3.9 kW and produces an annual output of around 2,900 kWh. Staff, pupils and visitors are kept aware of the energy generated via a public display in the school’s reception area. The electricity generated via the solar panels reduces CO2 emissions by approximately 1.5 tonnes each year. Half of costs for the £20,000 installation were met by the Co-operative Group’s ‘Green Energy for Schools’ initiative and half from the Government.

Floral Pavilion – Biomass Boiler

In 2008 the Floral Pavilion in New Brighton was rebuilt as part of an exciting regeneration programme. The biomass boiler uses wood pellets derived from sawdust and wood chippings, a bi product of the local timber industry.

The buildings heating system includes an eco friendly biomass wood pellet boiler which significantly reduces carbon emissions. Trees take CO2 from the atmosphere during their whole life. This CO2 is released when the trees are burnt or during natural decay. Carbon is produced in planting, harvesting, processing and transporting of timber plus the manufacture and delivery of wood pellets. Even so, an estimated net reduction in CO2 emissions of 90% or more compared with fossil fuels is achieved with biomass boilers.