Putting the sun in Sunderland with solar panels
SUNDERLAND City Council wants to invest millions of pounds in installing more solar panels to cut long-term energy costs while generating cleaner energy.
The move is part of a series of decarbonisation and money-saving energy projects being prepared for next year’s capital investment budget as the council targets becoming carbon neutral by 2030.
A £3.6m investment programme to decarbonise buildings with more solar panels and extra efficient energy systems is being outlined at the next council Cabinet meeting on Thursday, December 12th.
A £500,000 solar panel installation programme for 25 schools is also planned for the next budget.
Alongside the council aiming towards becoming carbon neutral by 2030, the council and its partners are working towards the city becoming carbon neutral by 2040.
The new investments are part of a £10m capital investment programme that is being drafted and are in addition to the council’s wider £569m investment programme over the next five years.
Leader of the council, Coun Michael Mordey said: “Investing in the city’s infrastructure through our own budget or with other local, national and international partners are key elements of the City Plan that is making Sunderland a more dynamic, healthy, vibrant, and smart city for all.”
Sunderland is continuing to attract significant amounts of extra public funding from schemes such as the Future High Streets Fund, Transforming Cities Fund, Housing Infrastructure Fund, Active Travel Fund, UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UK SPF), Sports England, the Arts Council and the National Lottery Fund. These are in addition to public and private sector investments at sites such as the International Advance Manufacturing Park (IAMP) Strategic Site, the A19 Carbon Zone, land at the Port of Sunderland or the Crown Works film studio development.
Coun Mordey said: “There is a lot of investment happening in our city, more is in the pipeline and we are determined to bring more jobs, investments, and new opportunities for all our communities.”
The council’s Cabinet Member for corporate services and equalities, Coun Alison Smith said: “We are very aware of how we ‘invest to save’, where we cut our energy bills and lower our carbon footprint as we move to towards becoming a carbon neutral council and city. Investing in solar panels saves on energy bills and releases funding that can go towards other projects.”
The report to cabinet outlines how solar panels for council buildings lead to major electricity savings after a year and panels at a further 25 city schools would see a return on investments within around six years.
