A community solar panel installation project has been completed in Edinburgh.

A number of energy-saving panels have been placed on 24 buildings, including schools, community and leisure centres, in partnership with the Edinburgh Community Solar Co-operative (ECSC), supported by Energy4All.

The renewable scheme is estimated to supply one million units of zero-carbon energy a year and contribute towards the council's target to reduce emissions by 42% by 2020. Any surplus energy will be sold to the National Grid and profits made by the project will be reinvested locally through a newly-created Community Benefit Fund.

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In addition, the initiative is believed to be the largest community-owned urban renewable project in the UK and has been nominated for the Best Community Project Award at the Scottish Green Energy Awards.

Cllr Adam McVey said: "I am delighted to see this project come into action, providing a wealth of environmental and economic benefits in the long term.

"As a Council we are committed to reducing our carbon footprint and it is through developments such as this we are able to make a real change. Co-operatives are also a great way to involve the community, in this instance to increase the city's renewable energy together."

Dr Richard Dixon, Chair of the ECSC, added: "Schools, community centres and sports halls are now creating clean, green electricity for themselves and for the wider community, in a project funded by local investors.

"This is the biggest scheme of its type in the UK and we would be delighted to see this kind of project spreading to other Scottish cities. Many congratulations to the team, who have worked really hard over the summer to meet the deadlines to get all 24 solar installations installed and generating electricity."

(LM)