Decision details

SUMMARY

• It is proposed that solar-photovoltaics are installed on the roof of City Offices, the planning department have been consulted on the development and criteria for compliance detailed. The proposed project will meet the requirements for being a permitted development (Annex 2).
• The Council is committed to reducing its carbon emissions by 20% by 2020/21 on 2015/16 levels, and has also adopted the “Twelves Action for a Lower Carbon Council” in which it states that it will “install solar panels on the Council estate whenever this makes financial sense and the location and structures are suitable.”
• The solar-PV installation will contribute a saving of 14.7 tonnes of carbon/annum towards the Council’s goal of cutting 929 tonnes carbon/annum by 2020/21. In the most recent carbon audit, the Council had successfully reduced emissions by 443 tonnes when compared to the base year, which equates to a reduction of 9.54%.
• The large carbon reduction projects of the Council’s estate have largely been completed (e.g. LED lighting upgrades). The Council therefore needs to consider alternative methods for reducing its carbon footprint; solar-power is one of these.
• City Offices, Colebrook Street is central to the Council’s operations and has a high electrical load, especially during daylight hours.
• City Offices also benefits from a large flat roof-area which is suitable for mounting solar-panels.
• It is proposed that an installation of 30 kWp of photovoltaic panels is installed upon the roof of City Offices; this would generate 28,000 kWh per year and a saving of £2,800/annum on electricity purchases alone.

• Project capital costs will be £40,000 with a payback between 7-8 years.

• The estimated revenue of the project is £140,000 over a period of 25 years, generated through savings on electricity costs, and income from exports payments and the Feed in Tariff (FiT)(relative ratio 75:11:14).