Solar power to help run railway

The Rhyl railway runs in a loop around the marine lake

Solar power will help run a miniature railway in north Wales, in a project funded by the UK government.

Panels will be placed in a new station and museum building at Rhyl miniature railway and will be used to offer solar-powered rides on a special tram.

A similar solar energy scheme will also be set up at Rogerstone Primary School in Newport, south Wales.

It is part of a national drive to encourage alternative energy projects.

The government is encouraging use of solar power

Work on the scheme is due to start next year, and the panels are due to be mounted on the east and west sides of the building's curved roof.

The project, which will produce around 2.5 times the amount of electricity used by the average household each year, is also seen as adding "significant educational value" to the building.

Simon Townsend, one of the trustees at the steam-powered railway, said the £35,000 grant would help create a diverse attraction with a solar-powered vehicle.

"We hope that this will provide us with our own energy and also we will be able to demonstrate the application of solar panels to groups that visit us," he said.

"The hope is to attract school parties and the like to the building - not only will there be a quality heritage attraction, but a different strand for those that want to learn about alternative energy and renewables."

Eco centre

Meanwhile, the new school in Newport will cater for 450 pupils and will replace a building which burned down last year.

A solar system will be built into the new building's central corridor and will produce 2.2 times the average household's annual energy consumption.

Rogerstone Primary is being rebuilt after a fire

Elsewhere, a grant has also been awarded to the Cadoxton Ponds Eco Study Centre in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Solar panels will be incorporated into a new building, as well as solar collectors for heated water.

The three schemes are all part of a Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) programme which began in 2002, and aims to help deliver the government's target of delivering 10% of energy through renewable sources by 2010.

More than £20m in grants has so far been given out.

Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks said: "Solar is a clean, green energy source that the government is supporting through this funding programme."

"These projects have demonstrated they are practical and exciting and will add to the proportion of the UK's energy that comes from renewable sources."