Just days after experts monitoring progress towards the island’s climate policy targets branded them “unachievable” on the current trajectory, ministers have announced a new agreement with Jersey Electricity to deliver a programme of rooftop solar arrays across a range of government-owned properties.
The announcement follows a back-and-forth in the States Assembly earlier this week, in which Environment Minister Steve Luce acknowledged criticism contained in the independent Climate Council’s first report.
This included concerns that Jersey is not currently on track to meet its 2030 objectives established alongside the launch of the Carbon Neutral Roadmap several years ago.
Additionally, Deputy Luce noted that “there could well be some hypocrisy aimed at government,” with the Council also highlighting the fact that the government has continued to install new fossil-fuel heating systems in its own buildings – despite encouraging households and businesses to move away from oil and gas.
But in a joint statement this morning, JE and the government said that the new “ambitious” programme of rooftop solar arrays had involved analysis of the public portfolio to identify “key sites” for potential installations, subject to structural surveys.
JE will project-manage, design, install and maintain the arrays, with schools, car parks, depot buildings and “other civic premises” among the possible sites being considered.
Rooftop solar has a significant role to play in reaching the island’s sustainability objectives, as well as contributing to JE’s solar 5,000 ambition to power 5,000 homes with locally generated solar power by 2030
JE chief executive Chris Ambler
The statement added that detailed surveys will be commissioned on a shortlist that will enable the inaugural location “to be kick-started this year” and “a longer-term programme to be agreed”.
Infrastructure Minister Andy Jehan described the agreement as “a significant moment for locally generated renewable power using public properties”.
He continued: “Government has a responsibility to lead on sustainability and deliver value for our island; ensuring that energy produced from our buildings benefits the community is central to that commitment.”
JE chief executive Chris Ambler said the utility company had been “working on this for some time”.
Mr Ambler continued: “This is a major step forward in building local renewable electricity generation and shows our shared commitment to sustainability.
“Every site generating local renewable power helps to build our island’s energy sovereignty, with the electricity generated being socialised across all our customers via the grid.”
He also said that JE “often hear customers asking for more rooftop solar on public buildings”, adding that “we believe this will be welcome news for many”.
“Rooftop solar has a significant role to play in reaching the island’s sustainability objectives, as well as contributing to JE’s solar 5,000 ambition to power 5,000 homes with locally generated solar power by 2030.”