Council to award £500,000 of solar energy business

The decision to award 14 new contracts to provide solar PV installations has been announced by Plymouth City Council.

The projects form the next phase of its multi-million pound energy saving programme.

Work totalling £527,000 will provide savings on civic energy bills and boost the city’s economy; with contractors committing to increase Plymouth’s ‘green’ skills base through new apprenticeships and local employment opportunities.

The second phase of the programme takes the number of Council properties with solar energy from five to 19.

Plans include a large installation on the roof of Western Approach car park and most sites will be completed by spring next year.

The new sites are expected to generate combined savings and income on average in excess of £64,000 a year. This will increase annually over a lifetime, as energy prices get significantly more year on year.

Councillor Mark Lowry, Cabinet member for Finance said: “As a co-operative Council we are constantly searching for pioneering ways to reduce the city’s carbon footprint. Our ambitious and successful energy saving programme is not only environmentally friendly, but brings great benefit to the local economy. It will also help to secure the considerable savings we need to make to protect frontline services.”   

Plymouth City Council has seen energy prices rise by over 20 per cent since August 2010 and is working to reduce costs as well as uphold its environmental and social responsibilities.

Since the first arrays were installed on Council buildings in February 2013, combined energy production has totalled over 67 megawatt hours (MWh), enough electricity to power 18 homes in Plymouth for a year.