Solar panels have been fitted to the roofs of two engine sheds, café, and exhibition hall at New Romney Station, and on top of the End of the Line restaurant at Dungeness station at the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway (RHDR). The RHDR will celebrate its launch on Friday 22nd of May.
The installation is expected to save RHDR up to £18,000 a year in energy bills, cutting grid electricity use and significantly reducing carbon emissions.
The project will deliver around 110,000 kWh per year, most of which will be used by the railway line with only a small amount being sold back to the grid.
Greener and cheaper
The move to solar energy was made possible by Kent Community Energy, a community benefit society, as part of its first ever rooftop project, along with installers Bloom Renewables, and a grant from Folkestone and Hythe District Council.
RHDR did not have to invest any money in the renewable energy scheme. Instead, as part of a 20-year contract, they granted rooftop space to KCE who own the equipment and sell the energy back to the railway at a lower cost than current energy providers.
Stuart Ross, General Manager of the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway, said: “Our railway is vital to the district by bringing in thousands of tourists every year and providing jobs in the community. However, the cost of running the railway has increased hugely over the last few years because of spiralling energy costs.
“Now the solar panels will help us to improve our environmental credentials while making cost savings. The service delivered by KCE and their installers will help the railway to survive into its second century, and future generations can continue to enjoy riding our world-famous trains from Hythe to Dungeness.”
Michael Bax, of Kent Community Energy, said: “We’re delighted to help RHDR on their journey to renewable energy in our inaugural community project and remain committed to keep helping them lower their carbon footprint and save money.
“Later this year we hope to install a charger for electric vehicles in their car park and further solar to help a coal-burning railway keep saving on carbon emissions.”
An expanding solar future
KCE recently launched a Bond fundraising initiative with investment firm Ethex to raise £750,000, and has already passed its target with more than £900,000 raised.
The Bond raise, which is open until June 23, will pay for nearly 3,000 solar panels for community buildings like schools, libraries, leisure centres, and halls.
As well as providing solar panels to help our community become more energy resilient, KCE puts any profits into community grants.
This year it has nearly £30,000 available to Kent organisations focused on climate change, protecting biodiversity, fighting energy poverty, and promoting energy efficiency, and hopes the figure will more than triple to £100,000 next year.
Since 2020, KCE has awarded £40,000 to 12 community projects ranging from helping survivors of domestic abuse to enhancing nature reserves and improving energy efficiency.
Details of the grant programme which is open until June 30 can be found at www.kentcommunityenergy.org
For more details about the current Bond raise with Ethex, go to https://www.ethex.org.uk/invest/kent-community-energy-2032-bonds
This article is based on a Press Release by Kent Community Energy, and edited by Kent and Surrey Bylines.
