15 March 2012
Solar panels at Eastfield House
Energy prices are constantly increasing and causing ongoing concern for local businesses, the community and local authorities.
Huntingdonshire District Council has been reviewing the running costs of its own buildings and is developing a programme of cost saving energy efficiency measures (e.g. insulation at leisure centres) and also looking at generating its own energy.
As part of these measures the council has installed 1170 PV (photovoltaic) panels on the roof of its main operational depot at Eastfield House, Huntingdon to generate electricity from the sun. They will provide the council with some of its own electricity supply as well as an income from the Government’s Feed-In Tariff over the next 25 years. They will generate enough power to supply the equivalent of over 50 homes giving free electricity in the daytime to help run its office and depot.
The project is expected to provide at least £320,000 of income (after expenditure) for the council over the next 25 years. This will help to reduce the pressure on the council’s finances.
The installation was undertaken by S.A.T. Sun and Alternative Technology Ltd, working with the council’s Environmental Management Team who have delivered a local solution to reduce energy bills.
Councillor Darren Tysoe, executive councillor for environment said: “This is the right solution to our energy needs in the right place. It will reduce our running costs, meet renewable energy targets and generate income. As one of the largest PV installations on a public sector building in the East of England, we believe the project shows visionary leadership for Huntingdonshire’s Low Carbon Agenda.”