Hackney Light and Power celebrates first rooftop PV installation in 1MW programme

Hackney Council’s publicly-owned renewable energy services company, Hackney Light and Power, is celebrating the completion of its first roof installation.

The solar panels, installed at the West Reservoir Centre by Spirit Energy, are set to generate 77,000kWh of power per year. This will cover all of the centre’s electricity needs, with any surplus generation to be transported to the grid.

This installation forms part of the council’s plans to decarbonise by 2040, reducing its emissions by 45% on 2010 levels over the next year. Key to this is its plan to become a leader of renewable energy, with Hackney Light and Power set to lead this.

Cllr Jon Burke, cabinet member for energy, waste, transport and public realm, said: “In our 2018 Manifesto, we committed to deliver a publicly-owned clean energy company, Hackney Light and Power; and in 2019, we declared a climate emergency and committed to doing everything within our power to rapidly reduce the Council’s carbon emissions in-line with the most stretching science-based targets of the United Nations.

“I am delighted that Hackney Light and Power’s first solar power installation is already helping to decentralise the energy system and displace carbon-intensive electricity from the grid as part of our radical proposals to  rebuild a greener Hackney in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.”

The installation is the first of nine set to be completed before the end of the councillor’s term, which will total 1MW. This will include panels at London Fields Lido – an outdoors pool in the borough – along with a number of other council-owned buildings.

“We’re now working hard on the delivery of Hackney Light and Power’s next solar and energy infrastructure projects, which are not only generating clean power but also high-skilled employment at a time of real economic uncertainty.”

Additionally, the council is looking into the possibility of installing solar panels on council homes and estates to help generate clean energy for the residents.

Hackney Light and Power is involved in offering a number of different services in the borough, including offering free thermal insulation measures and triallling low carbon heat technologies like heat pumps and hydrogen boilers as part of its Green Homes programme. It has also carried out feasibility studies looking into district heating, and those looking into how best to rollout electric vehicle charging infrastructure.