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Energy bills at schools and Best Start family hubs across Rochdale are set to fall sharply following the installation of new solar panels.
In recent weeks, Bowlee Park Community Primary School in Middleton and the Derby Street Best Start Family Hub in Heywood have had renewable energy systems fitted as part of a £150,000 programme. The scheme is funded by Rochdale Borough Council capital investment and external support from Great British Energy via Greater Manchester Combined Authority's Mayoral Renewables Fund.
Generating electricity on site will cut reliance on the grid and is expected to save each setting thousands of pounds every year.
At Bowlee, the 138.86 kilowatt-peak (kWp) array will supply around 37% of the school’s annual electricity, delivering an estimated £21,000 in yearly savings.
At Derby St, the 49.82 kWp installation is forecast to meet 33% of demand and save up to £8,000 a year.
The panels will also shrink the buildings' carbon footprints. Derby St's system is projected to reduce emissions by about 8.78 tonnes of CO2 annually — equivalent to planting 403 trees — while Bowlee’s is expected to save approximately 25.38 tonnes, comparable to 1,166 trees.
Councillor Tricia Ayrton, cabinet member for climate change and environment, said: "As a council, we are fully committed to taking meaningful action to reduce carbon emissions.
"Solar panels play a huge part in this and our wider efforts to protect the environment around us, so I am delighted to see them in place, and I look forward to seeing more of these panels installed on local buildings in the future."
