The Power of Solar

Zurich says that the solar panels it installed last year provided 47% of the electricity used at its HQ in Braddan.

The solar panels, installed on the roof of the car park next to Zurich House, went live last summer.

The system was jointly funded by Zurich on the Isle of Man, and the Zurich Carbon fund which is supported by Zurich Insurance Group and also allows employees to top-up their electric vehicles for free via a number of charging points.

Bruce Pearson, CEO, Zurich International Life Ltd, said: ‘Generating 47% of our electricity from our solar in the first year of operation is a great achievement, so we must say congratulations to the team here on the Island for their excellent work in the development and operation of the power system, and Ardern & Druggan who designed and installed it.

‘We must also thank the government for their help during the planning stage, and to DEFA, the Climate Change Transformation Board, and UNESCO Biosphere Isle of Man for their support and encouragement at each stage of the project. Looking ahead, we’re already working on plans to increase the percentage of renewable energy we use.’

Jason Buckley, facilities manager at Zurich, added: ‘It’s a good start bearing in mind factors such as poor weather, and the lack of batteries to store power when the amount generated exceeds what we can use. At the moment, excess power goes to the grid – but we’re assessing options to purchase and install a PV (photovoltaic) battery storage facility.’

n addition to generating more of its own energy needs from solar, employees at Zurich House have been reducing power and water consumption, cutting plastic and paper usage, and increasing recycling. They have cut electricity consumption by 25% over the past three years.