More than 1,400 council homes switch to solar power

Solar panels have been installed on more than 1,000 council homes across the city in a 3-year project completed this summer. It brings the total number of council homes in the city now with solar panels to more than 1,400. 

The panels will help to reduce energy bills for council tenants and cut carbon emissions.     

The installation programme focussed on council-rented houses and bungalows with the lowest energy efficiency ratings, particularly those with electric heating, and areas of the city with a higher likelihood of fuel poverty.   

Residents are feeling the benefits, with potential savings of up to £300 a year on their electricity bills.   

The project is part of our continuing drive to improve the standard of council housing and make sure residents live in well-insulated, efficiently heated, healthy homes.

Free electricity for tenants

Solar panels are installed on the roofs of homes selected for the project and provide free electricity for residents in the property whenever they are generating power. 

If the household uses more electricity than is being generated, power still comes from the national grid and is paid for in the usual way.

Any surplus electricity generated by the panels is exported to the national grid, helping the drive to lower carbon emissions.

The solar panels don’t need direct sunlight to work and still generate electricity on a cloudy day. However, the stronger the sunshine, the more electricity is generated.

Community benefit

The project has also brought benefits for a local community hall.

Sureserve Energy Services, which carried out the installation work for the council, provided and fitted a solar panel system at St George’s Hall in Moulsecoomb as a social value benefit of the contract. 

The panels were installed in July and the committee of volunteers who run the hall are looking forward to seeing a reduction in electricity bills.

Making a difference

Councillor Gill Williams, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “Energy costs are understandably a big concern for many residents, and this huge programme of solar panel installations is bringing benefits for households across the city.

“Feedback from residents has been positive, with many noticing a difference in their energy bills and making changes to their routine to run appliances when the solar panels are generating most electricity.

“We are pleased the project is also bringing additional community benefits in the form of solar panels which will make a real difference at St George’s Hall.”

Nicky Mullee, the manager of the hall, said: “One of our dreams for St George’s Hall was to get solar panels and it is amazing to now have them installed, we are over the moon.

“We will be saving on our energy bills and it will help to make our community hall more sustainable, both financially and environmentally. Thank you to everyone involved in making this happen!”

The hall is part of the Climate for Communities partnership of community, voluntary and social enterprise organisations working with local people to take action on the climate emergency.