Council embarks on largest rollout of rooftop solar
We're installing 730 solar panels across the roofs of our council-owned buildings, including leisure centres, offices, a social care facility and a nursery.
This is the largest rollout of solar PV to date on our non-domestic public buildings.
The panels will reduce carbon emissions by around 340 tonnes and generate an additional 350,000 kWh of renewable energy a year – the equivalent of powering 130 homes.
An impressive 292 solar panels have been fitted to the roof of the Prince Regent swimming pool alone. 97% of the energy generated will be consumed by the facility, saving more than 24 tonnes of CO2e emissions annually – the same as planting 1,138 trees every year.
The latest solar installations are the first in our portfolio to have been fitted with power optimisers which enables each panel to act independently. This means that if one panel is faulty or covered in debris it doesn’t affect the generation of the rest of the panels
It also allows us to pinpoint any maintenance issues with the system as well as receive performance data for each individual panel.
Renewed focus on Net Zero
The project is part of our renewed focus on net zero. Earlier this week, we launched our Decarbonisation Pathway Study, which looks in detail at how the city can change to low carbon energy systems through high-impact projects. The report makes clear that solar deployment at scale is crucial as part of the journey to Net Zero.
Councillor Tim Rowkins, Cabinet member for Net Zero and Environmental Services, said: “Our new rooftop solar panel deployment is a practical demonstration of how we are taking our commitment to Net Zero and turning it into tangible decarbonisation projects.
“We’re using the roofs of our public buildings to install hundreds of solar panels that are generating efficient, low cost, renewable energy that is reducing the operational costs of the buildings.
“The installation on the roof of the Prince Regent Swimming Complex is our largest so far, which helps to decarbonise a particularly energy-intensive facility. The panels we’re adding to our council homes and schools will reduce bills for our residents and help our schools keep costs down. This new local power generation also helps to free up grid capacity as we seek to deliver more high-impact projects around the city.”
Generating power for community services
Solar panels have recently been installed on the roofs of Moulsecoomb Community Leisure Centre, Wayfield Avenue resource centre and Roundabout nursery, with installs at Portslade Sports Centre and Hollingdean Family Hub underway and due for completion at the end of the year.
Any excess electricity generated will be exported back to the grid, providing an income to help operational costs.
Leisure centres leading the way
Of Brighton & Hove’s 7 public leisure centres, 5 now have solar panels. Leisure centres are particularly energy intensive, making this a significant contribution to the council’s journey to Net Zero on its own buildings.
Matt Wickham, Freedom Leisure Chief Operating Officer said: “This is a fantastic step towards supporting our broader goals of promoting energy efficiency and sustainability at our leisure centres.
“Our centres in Brighton and Hove are the hubs of community activity and this project will help us reduce costs and reinvest those savings into better services and programmes for our customers thanks to the significant investment from Brighton & Hove City Council in these energy saving initiatives. This is another meaningful step in reducing carbon emissions and promoting good environmental stewardship.”
Brighton-based AJ Taylor Electrical Contractors Ltd installed the largest set of solar panels on the Prince Regent Swimming Complex.
Read the Brighton & Hove Decarbonisation Pathways Study.
Working towards carbon net zero is part of our Council Plan to deliver an accessible, clean and sustainable environment.