Solar panels saving cash at Dorset Council highways depots
They're in place at Charminster, Ferndown and Wareham
Solar panels installed on the roofs of Dorset Council highways depots have saved the authority £54,000 a year.
They were installed at Charminster, Ferndown and Wareham in 2022, and have also helped cut carbon emissions at the authority.
The 700 plus panels on the highways depots have been part of a programme to install energy saving and renewable energy measures at over 200 council-owned sites over the course of a year.
This was made possible thanks to £19 million from central government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme.
Cllr Jon Andrews said: "The installation of solar panels at our depots is a significant step towards a greener future for Dorset. Not only are we reducing our carbon footprint, but we are also making substantial savings on energy costs.
“Even with the relatively small solar panel installations at the three depots combined, we are generating enough energy to power 77 average-size homes a year.
“This renewable energy, which costs nothing to generate at the three sites, is used to charge our equipment and growing electric vehicle fleet, and help power our buildings.
“We are committed to helping build a greener, more sustainable future for our county and it is fantastic to see the positive impact these solar panels are having on our carbon footprint and the council’s energy bills.”
To meet a carbon neutral target, Dorset Council needs to move away from using fossil fuels (like oil and gas) to heat and power its buildings by 2035.