177 solar PV panels have been installed at Castle Farm which will generate approximately 80,000kWh of electricity each year, reducing carbon emissions by 21 tonnes per year.

At the Royal Spa Centre, 62 solar PV panels have been installed which are expected to generate approximately 22,000kWh of electricity each year, saving 3.5 tonnes in carbon emissions. Due to structural constraints with the roof, an innovative design was developed, incorporating a vertically mounted panel array, to maximise generating capacity.

Across both buildings, the anticipated energy bill saving is around £14,000 per year.

Councillor Hema Yellapragada, Portfolio Holder for Decarbonisation, said:

“The Council’s Corporate Strategy has low cost, low carbon energy as one of its top priorities, with the decarbonisation of our public buildings high on that agenda.

“I’m delighted to see that these panels have been installed and are already working to provide clean energy to these high-use buildings.”

The panels at the Royal Spa Centre are in addition to the recent LED lighting upgrade, which is expected to reduce the building’s electricity use by 30%.

The work undertaken is part of the Council’s Low-Cost Low-Carbon Energy Programme, a key focus of the Council’s Corporate Strategy that seeks to lower energy bills and reduce carbon emissions from buildings across the district.