Solar power project could save council millions over 25 years

Calderdale Council’s Cabinet has agreed to look at installing photovoltaic panels on council buildings to generate solar electricity.

In addition to the cash savings, the scheme could also reduce carbon emissions by 21,000 tonnes over the same period and thereby avoid Government penalties under the council’s carbon reduction commitment.

But the authority has been told it needs to act quickly if it is to take advantage of the national Feed-in Tariff (FIT) scheme, which requires power companies to pay organisations and individuals a fixed rate for all of the surplus solar energy they generate.

The current Government may decide to reduce by 10 per cent the rates it pays for projects applying to join the FIT scheme after March 2012.

A report considered by the Cabinet suggests that of the 250 buildings which Calderdale Council owns, including leisure centres and 100 schools, 40 per cent would be suitable for installation of solar panels.

The Cabinet agreed to work towards the appointment of an appropriate organisation to carry out a feasibility study into the project with a further report to be brought back next month.

The Cabinet member for the economy and environment, Barry Collins, says the council needs to move quickly if it is to gain maximum benefit from the FIT scheme.

He said; “We need to complete a feasibility study quickly so that, if we decide to go ahead we can benefit from the maximum Feed-in-Tariff.

“This is a scheme where the council will be able to recover its initial investment through big savings on the cost of electricity and also by selling spare electricity back to the grid.

“It’s estimated that a two-megawatt scheme in total covering 250 buildings would cost £6m to install.

“Combined savings from the electricity generated and the Feed-in Tariff revenue would enable the scheme to pay for itself in nine to 15 years’ time.”

Coun Collins added: “Instead of borrowing the money the council could go into partnership and we have had talks with various companies regarding work on such a scheme.

‘‘The advantage of this would be that the council would face zero capital expenditure but would have to share its tariffs.

“What we have agreed so far is to seek technical support to carry out a major feasibility study in the short term and look into the financial aspects of the scheme.

“We have to get everything up and ready by 2012 to qualify for the highest level of subsidy.

“This is potentially a major scheme for the council provided we can put together a viable scheme and there is a great deal of technical work going on at the moment.

“There is also the possibility of involving neighbouring councils – Kirklees is way ahead of everyone on this.

“It’s also a real attempt by the council to protect the environment. It is quite an exciting little scheme.”

Council leader, Janet Battye, (Lib Dem, Calder), said; “I think it is really important that the council goes as green as it can. It makes sense and we need to reduce our dependence on fossil-based power in favour of renewable energy.

“It’s important that the council uses as much renewable energy as it can. And we need to take advantage of any incentives to encourage councils to go green and it is also important that the council is seen as a good role model for local people and businesses.”

Regarding the financing of the project she said her natural inclination was for the council to engage in partnerships wherever possible but it was too early to say yet how the project might develop.

robert.sutcliffe@ypn.co.uk