The solar farm was officially opened by Dr. Patrick Candler, CEO of Sherwood Forest Trust on Earth Day 2015, enabling the business park to move closer toward its aim of becoming a world-class centre of renown for synchronous business and environmental management.
The new solar farm has over 2,000 solar PV panels capable of generating up to 450 kW of power. This means it will be able to produce enough electricity for all the businesses on the park, something that is thought to be unique in the UK.
“We believe that we are leading the way in environmental management and business support” said James Cannon, Director of Ransom Wood Estates, the company that manages the business park. “We reused the old buildings we inherited on the site and have incorporated sound environmental policies wherever appropriate to benefit out tenants. They will be able to power their businesses in the knowledge that no fossil fuels are being used to keep them running. With the solar farm on-line, we will be able to run the business park in a self-sustaining way when it comes to energy use, reducing carbon emissions by thousands of tonnes each year.”
Charles Cannon, fellow Director and brother to James, added that the decision to set up the solar panel farm was as much about ethics as it was economics and environmental management. It was all about creating the right space in which people can work without the added stress factors of living out of an office. The history of the site is one of the environment supporting the well-being of people using it and the company is determined this should continue. A base at Ransom Wood means working in a beautiful place that changes through the seasons, one that sustains the flora and fauna of the area and in return it provides an inspiring and creative place in which people can run a business. The company now host solar powered conferences, events and even weddings while at the same time not damaging the environment.
Ransom Wood Estates has invested over £660,000 in the solar panel farm, which in time will involve rare-breed sheep grazing the meadows and the development of new flora to attract more wildlife to the site. In time the farm will be made open to school visits to educate children about the environment and sustainable power sources. When the business park was launched in 1997, Charles and James Cannon set about creating a venture that worked in harmony with the environment and supported the health and well-being of its business tenants. Unlike modern business parks, Ransom Wood uses old early 20th century buildings instead of erecting purpose built ones.
Guests at the official opening also had the opportunity to visit the solar farm, test drive a hybrid car and have a ride on a sun and wind powered trike.
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