Plymouth City Council has invited solar business leaders to attend a supplier open day on 22 May, as part of its planned energy project.
The authority is aiming to install solar panels on 14 more council buildings, in addition to the four that already have PV arrays. It estimates that the proposed new solar project could provide contracts totaling more than £500,000.
The open day will be held at the Plymouth Guildhall at 10am and will offer interested solar developers the opportunity to meet the Council’s procurement offices and learn more about Plymouth’s solar plans.
Councillor Mark Lowry, cabinet member for finance said: “A month of consultation with potential suppliers will take place. We expect strong interest and encourage businesses that wish to bid to get in touch. We want to work with forward-thinking companies that can help to inform our specifications and have sustainable practices at their heart.”
The installation of solar is one of the first phases in the council’s £13 million energy plan, which includes tenders to replace around 28,000 sodium street lamps with LED lights, decreasing the council’s street lighting expenses by 70%.
Plymouth Council has a medium term aim to become carbon neutral and has one of the lowest CO2 emissions of any city in the UK.