LONDON'S Olympic Village should be powered by solar panels built in Llay.
That's the vision of MP Ian Lucas, who has urged the Government to make the village environmentally friendly and self-sufficient by using solar cells made by Sharp on Llay Industrial Estate.
Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell has already written to Mr Lucas after he raised the issue in a special debate about the games a fortnight ago to assure him that energy conservation and renewable energy would be prime considerations in the final plans for the village.
'I am very pleased by what the Olympics Minister has promised,' said Mr Lucas. 'But I am already vigorously campaigning for the Government to use solar cells made here in Wrexham for the 2012 complex.'
The panels could be used to warm water and generate electricity, providing enough power and heat for everything the athletes need.
Sharp is at the cutting edge of solar panel technology and employs 128 people in Wrexham manufacturing photovoltaic cells which turn sunlight into electricity.
'We are very interested in the London Olympics and are currently considering our options,' said Daniel Wan, head of Sharp's solar cell marketing team.
'We have not spoken with any bodies connected to the Olympics yet but understand Mr Lucas has raised our possible involvement in the House of Commons.
'Our cells would fit in well with the new London Climate Change Strategy which says all new builds must adhere to strict rules on the use of renewable energy and energy conservation.
'We are now working on a proposal we can put to the relevant bodies to further our interest in this great sporting event.'
But while Sharp's involvement would ensure its order book remained full for another seven years, it says it is not relying on an Olympic contract to safeguard jobs.
'We are one of a small number of solar cell manufacturers in Britain,' said Mr Wan.
'The market here is growing but is still small. But even in the UK with its poor climate, the cells work very well and would meet the demands of an Olympic Village.'
