Bromsgrove District Council has given the green light to a solar energy scheme that will see solar panels installed on the council’s depot in Aston Road.
The scheme had come under scrutiny after uncertainty over current feed-in tariff (FiT) rates could lead to lower returns than anticipated. However, the council’s Portfolio Holder for Planning and Regeneration, Councillor Kit Taylor, confirmed that even at the lower FiT rates, the scheme will still achieve its environmental goals and represent good value for tax-payers.
Cllr Taylor said: “Whatever the outcome of the Government’s legal process, money was never the main motivation for installing solar panels on our building.
“The environmental benefits of renewable energy are clear, and it helps reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. It’s also the case that this investment will still save money.”
If the Department of Energy and Climate Change successfully appeal to the Supreme Court and lower feed-in tariff rates are retrospectively introduced, the proposed solar system would payback after 11 years as oppose to 6 years at the higher FiT rate.
Once the Council has recouped its initial investment it expects to make an income of around £76,000 over the lifetime of the tariff.