Solar panels herald bright future for Islington

Islington is looking at a brighter, cleaner future after installing solar panels on its buildings that will generate savings of £1.5million.

More than 1,800 solar panels are generating energy from the sun’s rays, and will provide free and environmentally-friendly electricity to council buildings, selling any excess generated back into the National Grid.

The combined benefit of electricity savings and income from the panels is estimated at £1,545,000 over 30 years, based on today’s electricity prices.

The panels will also save an estimated 190 tonnes of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere every year, equivalent to that absorbed by 156 acres of forest, or that produced by driving a car to the moon and back.

Cllr Claudia Webbe, executive member for environment and transport, said: “These solar panels are a win-win for the council and residents.

“Not only will they significantly reduce the council’s carbon footprint and electricity bills, they will also generate much-needed income, helping to reduce the pressure on the council’s budget in the long-term and help protect us against fluctuating electricity prices.

“We also managed to install them in time to catch the higher payment rate for energy fed back into the National Grid – the government has since cut the funding so brutally that new schemes are currently not viable.”

More than 900 panels have been installed at the Waste Recycling Centre, more than 850 at Sobell Leisure Centre and more than 100 at the customer service centre in Upper Street.