Energy company E.ON has given a £30,000 grant under its new SOURCE community initiative towards the cost of installing wind catchers at one of Hull's main visitor attractions, The Deep.

The Deep is a conservation and education charity which is dedicated to the protection of the marine environment through education, research and conservation, and tells the story of the world's oceans within an aquarium setting.

The money will be used to help pay for eight solar-powered wind catchers to be installed on the aquarium's roof.


Jane Branscombe, Community Relations Manager with E.ON, said: "We're delighted to be able to contribute towards this exciting project for The Deep as part of our new SOURCE scheme, which is designed to help community groups get their sustainable energy projects off the ground.

"They are looking to introduce an energy efficiency measure which will help to reduce the load on the aquarium's air handling systems."

The wind catchers will help to create natural ventilation throughout the building and also help cool the upper floor, which can overheat in warmer months.

It is expected that the wind catchers will save the emission of up to 66 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year, as well as significant savings for the charity with the cost of keeping the aquariums at a constant temperature.

(CD/JM)