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£9.2 million solar panel plans for Kirklees

Kirklees councillors have agreed a £9.2 million plan for 2,000 solar panels on houses across the district.

The scheme which is funded from the Housing Revenue Account will see 50 houses having solar panels this year, 1,000 in 2015/16 and 950 in 2016/17.

The project will mean a future feed in tariff income of £14 million overall based on the electricity generated. It is hoped this will mean the project becomes self-financing.

The solar panels are also expected to reduce household bills by £100 each year, with 50% of the electricity generated used by the tenant.

Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing will consult with tenants about which homes are most suitable for the solar panels and a list of 2,652 suitable houses was considered by councillors.

Cllr Cathy Scott said: “The project will target up to 2,000 households at risk of fuel poverty.

“A reduction in fuel poverty is the key driver for the project rather than maximising income and the intention would be to target properties with poor thermal efficiency.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .