Council depot goes solar
More than 200 solar panels will be installed on the roof of the council depot at Metheringham.
The installation at the North Kesteven District Council facility will both save and generate money that can be reinvested into services according to the authority.
The 211 panels are the latest council renewable energy installations to reduce both cost and climate impacts with the PV panel already fitted on the roofs of the main Sleaford offices, its leisure centres and increasing numbers of council homes.
In unanimously approving the £170,000 project the council’s Executive Board said that with an expected pay-back period within nine years the scheme not only delivered excellent value for money for taxpayers by saving money, but also an ‘additional revenue stream for taxpayers’ by generating income – income that will help in offsetting the escalating costs of service delivery.
Electricity generation from the new solar panels is expected to exceed current energy demand for the site by over 50% and is the equivalent of saving 13tCO2, compared to current council consumption, including charging its electric vehicles.
This proposal also helps to further offset the environmental impact of waste service operations which were significantly reduced through the use of fuel derived from recycled cooking oil instead of standard diesel.
The proposal will not only be installed on the depot rooftop, but will also be spread across the adjacent industrial units at Scoley Court, through which the business tenants will be able to access the green electricity they generate at a competitive rate.
It was decided that the proposed 111kWp system was technically deliverable, financially viable, and aligned with the Council’s climate declaration and carbon reduction ambitions. It offered a strong return on investment, with a projected net income of approximately £630,000 over 30 years, a payback period of nine years.
The installation would reduce reliance on grid electricity, lower operational costs, and provide resilience against future energy price fluctuations.
Council leader Richard Wright said: "This investment extends further the Council's ambition in terms of renewable energy, which delivers both financial returns and sustainability returns. It represents another good investment for the Council that makes good economic sense and yet again shows that renewables save money."