A church in East London has embraced sustainability by installing over 100 solar panels and four heat pumps, backed by a £170,000 investment in eco-friendly technology.

St Paul’s West Hackney now produces approximately 70% of its energy needs through the use of 104 solar panels and four air source heat pumps.

Funding for this initiative came from the local community group Stokey Energy, Hackney Council’s Community Energy Fund, and the London Olympics Legacy Fund.

While it’s challenging to determine precise savings due to fluctuating energy costs, the parish initially projected that its £40,000 contribution could be recovered within four years.

Father Brandon Fletcher-James, who assumed his role as priest this past summer, shared with the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “All churches aim to be environmentally conscious, but we’re striving to achieve this in a practical manner.

“In just the past five months since my arrival, I’ve had numerous inquiries from other churches curious about how we implemented the solar panels and what this means for our commitment to the environment.”

The efforts were spearheaded by Stokey Energy, which has proclaimed the Anglican church a “solar powerhouse.”

Co-founder Tom Campbell mentioned that the church now generates 46 MWh of electricity annually, significantly reducing its energy expenses.

He explained: “Many churches suffer from substantial thermal leakage, leading to discomfort for congregants due to the cold and exorbitant heating bills from poor insulation.”

Hackney Council aims to replicate this model in other religious buildings such as churches, temples, and mosques, while also prioritizing the decarbonization of its housing.

Councillor Sarah Young, responsible for climate, environment, and transport, indicated that the council is installing solar panels on 27 blocks within three estates. The Labour-led authority suggests that tenants and leaseholders may soon experience lower utility bills as a result.

The £2 million initiative is financed through the council’s climate budget, which includes allocations from the City Hall’s Carbon Offset Fund.

The council anticipates that the project will be self-sustaining, with revenue from selling discounted solar electricity to residents projected to cover costs within 10 to 20 years.

On December 18, St Paul’s West Hackney welcomed a delegation from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

Parliamentary Under-Secretary Martin McCluskey commended the church as a leading example of community-driven energy solutions.

He remarked, “It serves as a model for what other buildings across the nation can leverage with the green technologies that are currently accessible.

“The remarkable aspect is that it has been driven by the council and community energy organizations.”

Father Fletcher-James expressed that his vision for enhancing the church’s environmental efforts extends beyond this project.

“There’s still a great deal more we can do to become more sustainable in our daily operations, including our administration and governance tasks.

“Those are some areas I plan to explore in the upcoming year,” he concluded.