THE rooftops of one of Winchester’s well-known buildings are being used to help save money – as Hampshire County Council generates more of its own solar energy. 

Elizabeth II Court, the county council’s headquarters, is now topped with 90 panels, which are expected to generate around 21.8 kW at peak performance – equivalent to powering a small primary school.

County council executive member for income and capital receipts Mel Kendal said: “With the cost of energy rising over the long term, it makes sense for the council to look ahead and invest in technology where there is a proven long-term saving. The government’s feed-in tariff makes solar energy cost-effective if we do it now.

The new panels are part of a programme run by engineers in the council’s Property Services department. It also includes installations on Dame Mary Fagan House (a shared office in Basingstoke) and Hawthorne Court Nursing Home in Sarisbury Green.

This project involves the three buildings that will give the fastest  return on investment in solar technology due to their size and position. It will help determine the viability of further installations of panels across the Council’s estate.

The panels are also set to cut the authority’s carbon footprint by reducing its reliance on non-renewable electricity from the grid. This is part of a wider Carbon Reduction strategy which will see consumption reduced by 20 per cent from 2010 to 2015.

Generating solar electricity is expected to reap financial benefits for taxpayers too. Once investment in the panels has been recouped, they will provide long-term free electricity, along with a revenue income to the County Council from the Government’s feed-in tariff, which will continue for many years.

The county council has already installed more than 20 solar panel arrays on schools in the area, which are saving money and generating free electricity as well as acting as a learning resource for pupils.