CITY BUSINESS

In association with
The Business Centre

SOUTH WALES
Technology that saves you money



We all want to save money on our energy bills and the buzzword of the moment is solar energy. But why should we go solar?

Well, it's renewable, environmentally friendly and reliable. It makes no noise and, perhaps most importantly, it's cheaper than buying from the power company. City Life talks to Caroline Summers, Sales Support Coordinator for Southern Solar on the growth of solar energy systems and the business.

When was the company set up?
In 2002 and since then the company has grown to include four regional bases - Sussex, London, Bristol and Hereford. The South Wales office was established in April 2010. All branches specialise in the specification and installation of solar thermal and solar electric systems, providing a high quality service to domestic, commercial and public sector clients.

What types of buildings are suitable?
We have added solar technology to many different types of building including blocks of flats, multiple house projects, schools, care homes and sheltered housing units, as well as retrofitting existing housing stock. To-date we have worked on projects ranging from small domestic (£5k) to large commercial (£170k) on one site and our largest project was £450k for Bron Afon Housing Association in 2009 which involved project managing installations across 21 sites within a six week timescale. One of the first jobs the Welsh branch undertook was the recent DIY SOS Big Build TV programme at a property in Brynmawr.

Do you see the market growing?
We think the Welsh domestic market has huge potential due to the Feed in Tariff; with the opportunity to turn your household roof into your own power station and get paid for generating your own electricity. The Welsh public sector is also a key area for us as we look to combat fuel poverty and make the transition towards a low carbon society, reducing the reliance on fossil fuels through solar.

Southern Solar Ltd Unit 16B Evans Business Centre Western Industrial Estate Caerphilly CF83 1BE 029 2080 7650 www.southernsolar.co.uk