More Council-owned buildings look set to have solar panels installed as the city continues its drive to cut carbon and create clean renewable energy.
The Box, Ballard House, Prince Rock Depot and Chelson Meadow are the latest buildings to be earmarked for installations that could help the Council cut its carbon emissions by up to 200 tonnes a year.
The solar panels will create generate in excess of 650,000 kilowatts a year of clean renewable energy helping to protect the Council against energy price increases and save on energy bills.
In the first year, it is estimated the panels will help the council reduce its energy bills by £58,500 in year one and protect against future increases in energy price enabling longer term financial planning.
Investing in solar will offer a positive return for the Council providing up to £1.4 million that would otherwise have been spent on fuel bills. The cost of the project is £468,000
Working with Plymouth Energy Community, the Council have helped more than 30 schools and community buildings have had solar paneling installed over the last few years. Other measures the Council has taken to help tackle climate change include:
- Exploratory drilling in the city centre to see if hot rock could help heat offices and regeneration projects, reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
- 10 schools and community buildings, including Mount Edgecumbe had over £200,000 LED lighting installed saving over £42,000 from their energy bills – this is ongoing
- Solar PV arrays installed on Midland House, the Council House and Western Approach car park
- Our Plan for Plastics – a city-wide commitment to cut single use plastics by 2020 to stop polluting the oceans with items such as tea stirrers, straws, plastic bags and water bottles.