New solar panels on the roof of York Minster have been switched on for the first time during a blessing ceremony led by the Dean of York.
The 184 panels were installed over the last four months on the south Quire roof of the Anglican cathedral. They will generate 70,000kWh of energy, which the Minster said will cover a third of its electricity requirements.
This is the fourth solar installation on the Minster estate. Combined, all the solar panels will generate 120,000kWh of energy per year, enough to power 41 average UK homes.
The solar panels project is part of the York Minster’s Neighbourhood Plan to retrofit the 800-year-old cathedral and safeguard it from the impacts of climate change.
Alex McCallion, director of works and precinct at York Minster, said: “Extreme weather, brought about by climate change, is the greatest threat to the fabric of York Minster. These solar panels signify a significant step forward in our decarbonisation journey and is a significant project of our Neighbourhood Plan.
“This project joins our existing solar slates on the York Minster Refectory, solar panels at the Heritage Quad and solar film on the Works & Technology Hub, to help reduce our energy consumption by a third – a huge leap forward toward a net-zero future.
“These renewable energy systems, together with retrofit to insulate our buildings and reduce energy consumption, should be celebrated as a major step forward and show that if we can do it at York Minster, everyone can and should.”
