Your church and solar PV

Solar electricity systems capture the sun's energy using photovoltaic (or PV) cells.

PV cells convert the sunlight into electricity, which can be used to run appliances, lighting and electric heating systems. Solar Photovoltaic technology potentially offers churches an opportunity to reduce their carbon footprint and energy bills.

Solar PV panels and the Diocese of Oxford

The Diocese of Oxford has installed solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on dozens of properties, mainly parsonage houses, across the diocese.

A number of parishes, including those with grade listed buildings, have installed solar PV on their roofs.

These include:

• All Saints Church, Wing, Buckinghamshire;
• St Mary the Virgin, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire;
• St George's Church, Wash Common, Berkshire.

Your church and solar PV 

The Church of England Environment Programme has produced advice for churches exploring solar PV:

• A webinar on solar PV provides an introduction to solar PV panel technology, its applications, usage and on-going benefits that accrue to system owners. It includes the steps involved in developing a Solar PV project from assessment, survey, technical & electrical engineering design, battery storage options, council planning & DAC application and approval processes, and the installation process, testing, commissioning & certification, on-going maintenance, and funding through the Smart Export Guarantee Scheme.
• Church of England renewables webpage, including solar PV.
• Case studies of churches which have installed solar PV.

English Heritage has a webpage on Climate Change and Places of Worship that includes guidelines on solar PV and places of worship.

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