The Co. Wicklow based Alternative Energy Ireland, installers of solar panels is using the summer period and festivals to their advantage, bringing a new awareness of solar panels to the Castlepalooza music festival. AEI installed the solar panels to the showers for the festival, which took place in Charleville castle in Tullamore. The gig, hosted by Dudley Stewart, brother of architect Duncan Stewart, took place during the August bank holiday weekend with hundreds of campers in residence at its dedicated campsite. AEI installed an Eco shower Pod to allow campers use showers heated by solar energy. This will help bring awareness to the benefits of solar, and shows that it can be used for large hot water demands, as well as small domestic needs. The showers were heated from a bank of evacuated tube solar panels - these types of panels produce the best output for Irish conditions as they can achieve higher temperatures in our climate. Water was stored in a large hot water cylinder located 10 metres from the shower Pod, and available for anyone to use on the campsite. Steven Bray, Sales Director at AEI, says “We’re hoping to provide hot water for other non-standard applications over the coming year and to bring awareness of the benefits of solar energy to a wide range of people.” |
