The Wrexham way

A £60m scheme will see almost a third of Wrexham council’s homes fitted with PV panels.

In September Wrexham County Borough Council unveiled plans for a multi-million project that will see almost one-third of its housing stock, approximately 3,000 properties, fitted with solar PV panels.

The improvements could cut residents’ energy bills by up to £200 a year and are a key element of the local authority’s wider carbon reduction strategy.

Overall, the £60m project is expected to save as much as 3,000 tonnes of CO2 annually while also providing subsidised green power to Wrexham’s tenants.

The council awarded the contract for the scheme to social housing regeneration specialist Forrest, which will carry out the work through its recently launched environmental services division, Forrest Green.

Local manufacturing Sharp Solar will supply the PV panels.

Work has started on retrofitting the panels on homes and the scheme is scheduled for completion by March 2012.

Forrest chief executive, Lee McCarren, said: “This is a truly landmark project and we’re looking forward to delivering one of the UK’s largest-ever social housing solar PV projects.

“The partnership-led approach between Wrexham council, Sharp Solar and Forrest will help to secure and create new jobs and apprenticeships for the local area.”

Sharp Solar international head of sales, Andrew Lee, added: “This kind of project represents the spirit of the Feed-in Tariff and demonstrates exactly what it was set up to achieve. It is an example of how intelligent investment in solar PV can create benefits over and above carbon reductions. This project will create employment and help to cut tenants’ fuel bills, putting money back in their pocket at a time when it is most needed.”

Dr Helen Paterson, Wrexham County Borough Council’s chief executive, explained the £60m scheme is “hugely significant” for the authority.

“Such investment demonstrates our commitment to reduce carbon emissions and energy use, while also tackling fuel poverty,” she commented.

“The added benefit of this project is the income that will be generated by taking advantage of the Government-backed Feed-in Tariff scheme. We look forward to working with our partners Sharp Solar and Forrest, and hope to maximise the benefits afforded by this flagship project.”