£10,000 award gives solar energy boost to Caritas House
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We’re thrilled to have been announced as recipients of a special award from Greater Manchester Community Renewables (GMCR), to help us install solar panels at our Caritas House supported accommodation.
The £10,000 funding, which is paid through the GMCR Community Fund, will help us to add a 24kWp rooftop solar system at Caritas House, made up of 50 solar panels, alongside 18 kWh of battery storage. We’re expecting the panels to generate more than 17,000 kWh of clean, green energy each year.
Patrick O’Dowd, our director, said: “Installing solar panels will naturally reduce the ongoing running costs of Caritas House, one of our supported accommodation sites for people experiencing homelessness in Manchester where energy is a significant and unavoidable expense.
“Savings made on energy will be redirected into frontline support, enabling us to help more people and respond more effectively to need. The system will also provide greater resilience against future energy price increases, helping protect services from financial pressure.
“Alongside this, the project contributes to carbon reduction and demonstrates that renewable energy can be successfully integrated into buildings serving vulnerable communities, combining environmental responsibility with social impact.”
The work to install the system will begin later this month.
Sarra Norcliffe-Murray, GMCR director, said: “We’re delighted to support Greater Manchester charities to install solar panels at their sites. These projects will help the charities reduce their running costs, meaning more money can go toward the vital services they provide to the community. We’d like to say a big thank you to our members who have invested in GMCR. It’s because of them that we are able to build up a Community Fund with surplus income and give it back to the community.”
