THE PRINCE OF WALES IS ACTIVELY CONSIDERING INSTALLING SOLAR PANELS ON THE ROOF OF HIS GRADE II-LISTED LONDON RESIDENCE, CLARENCE HOUSE. EXPERT GUIDANCE HAS BEEN SOUGHT ON HOW THE PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS CAN BE PUT ON THE 180 YEAR OLD MANSION WITHOUT DAMAGING ITS HISTORIC APPEARANCE. THERE WAS SPECULATION THAT THE PRINCE AND HIS AIDES MAY CHOOSE TO PLACE THE PANELS ON THE INWARD-FACING ROOFS AROUND THE CENTRAL COURTYARD OF THE BUILDING. PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS TYPICALLY GIVE AN ANNUAL RETURN ON THE INVESTMENT OF ABOUT 8%, WHICH WOULD MEAN PRINCE CHARLES WOULD START MAKING A PROFIT BY 2021. THERE WAS SPECULATION THAT THE COST OF SOLAR ENERGY FOR SUCH A BUILDING COULD COST AS MUCH AS £150,000. JERRY STOKES, THE BRITISH PRESIDENT OF SUNTECH EUROPE, WHICH SUPPLIES SOLAR PANELS, SAID HE HAD VISITED CLARENCE HOUSE TO DISCUSS THE PROJECT WITH THE PRINCE. 'THE PRINCE IS VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS TECHNOLOGY. I HAVE BEEN ON THE ROOF OF CLARENCE HOUSE', HE SAID. 'THE KEY THING IS NOT TO RUSH GOING SUPER-GREEN AND BE DISRESPECTFUL OF THE VISUAL IMPACT.' A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE PRINCE SAID: 'WE ARE ACTIVELY CONSIDERING INSTALLING SOLAR PANELS AT CLARENCE HOUSE, BUT THERE ARE TECHNICAL AND PLANNING ISSUES TO CONSIDER FIRST. IT'S STILL AT THE FAIRLY EARLY STAGES, BUT WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT ALL THE OPTIONS.'
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