Glasgow City Council is set to install over 1700 solar panels across several buildings, including schools and day care centres.

The solar arrays, which have a combined capacity to generate over 700,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, are expected to significantly reduce energy costs.

The Kelvin Hall will be home to the largest rooftop solar array in Glasgow, with over 1000 panels.

The council estimates that the solar panels will save over £183,000 in running costs each year and pay for themselves within 6 to 7 years.

This latest phase of solar panel installation is part of the council's ongoing efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and promote sustainable energy solutions.

Councillor Angus Millar, City Convener for Climate, backed the growth in the council's use of sustainable energy.

Councillor Millar said: "Solar power generation is a proven renewable energy that will dramatically cut our costs and reduce our carbon emissions.

-- Advertisement --

"Vacant land is increasingly at a premium within Glasgow and so it makes sense to utilise the available space on roofs across our built estate. Installing solar on panels on buildings allows those buildings to benefit directly from the renewable energy that is produced and this helps us maximise the financial return of our investment.

"Increased electricity prices, Improved solar panel efficiency and a lower prices for panels have all helped to reduce the effective payback period on PV installations. This means solar installation now comes with a significant period of zero cost, net zero electricity.

"Where ever possible we will install solar panels on our estate and we are currently looking at multiple locations throughout the city where solar can be introduced. We will keep working to access the available funding to ensure we create the highest possible capacity for solar generation from the council estate."

A feasibility study for installations at 37 locations is currently underway. An initial assessment has indicated that solar arrays on all of these buildings could deliver almost 3.2 giga watt hours of electricity per annum.

The solar panels being installed on these eight buildings are receiving funding through a £522k Scotland Recycling Fund loan, with match funding from GlasgowCC. Funding for the Scotland Recycling Fund scheme is delivered by Salix on behalf of the Scottish Government. The total funding loan will be repaid using the savings generated via the reduction in electricity purchased from the national grid.

Zoe Hurst, programme coordinator at Salix, said: "We're delighted to support Glasgow City Council with this ambitious project. The solar scheme will not only help to reduce the council's energy bills but is being used as a way to educate the children and adults that use these facilities on the climate crisis and the benefits of solar."