Solar panels installed at Western Approach car park

Plymouth City Council marked World Environment Day yesterday by launching its largest solar installation to date at Western Approach car park.

The site will produce enough energy to cover more than 30 per cent of its current needs, reducing energy spend by an estimated £41,000 in the first year. Savings will increase in future years as fuel inflation pushes up the price of electricity.

Work to install the 1,000 panels – double the number at Windsor House – was completed in three weeks. The £295,000 scheme has been funded through prudential borrowing, with repayments being more than covered by the annual savings made over the lifespan of the installation.

Further plans, including the fitting of LED lights, could see electricity consumption cut by up to 70 per cent, making Western Approach one of the greenest car parks in the country.

The work forms part of the Council’s carbon reduction and energy efficiency initiatives, with partner programmes including Plymouth Energy Community (PEC), local schools and the Tamar Science Park supporting the city’s aspiration to be the greenest in the country.

Councillor Mark Lowry, Cabinet member for Finance, said: “We’re pleased to launch our largest solar installation on World Environment Day – a day that encourages people to take a long-term view on the use of natural resources. The rooftop at Western Approach was an underused space but it’s now been transformed to work harder for the city.”