Council houses could be fitted with solar panels to generate
electricity
Published 24 January 2011
Council houses in St Athan look set to be fitted with solar
panels, which will provide tenants with free electricity.
A private sector company, EAGA, which
specialises in renewable energy solutions, has asked the council to
take part in a pilot scheme that could see fifty council houses
provided with free solar energy.
The scheme will not cost the tax payer a
single penny, as EAGA will recover the cost of the panels and their
installation by claiming ‘feed in tariff’ payments (a scheme
launched by the government in April 2010) – meaning they will sell
the energy produced by the panels. The tenants will be able
to use energy produced by the panels free of charge.
Cllr Paul Church, Vale council Cabinet member
for housing and community safety, said:” This scheme has a number
of benefits; the tenants will save around £170 each year and the
council doesn’t have to pay for the panels or maintain them in the
future. Also the environment will benefit, with the use of solar
power leading to a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from power
stations.”
For anyone interested in installing solar
panels on their own property and claiming the feed in tariff,
further information can be found on the
Energy Saving Trust website or call 0800 512 012