Glasgow City Council to install solar panels on council buildings in budget and sustainability move

Eight council buildings in Glasgow are set to get solar panels installed by October.

Art and sports centre Kelvin Hall in Argyle Street, five schools and two day care centres are in line for the renewable energy ‘phase 1’ installations.

It is hoped project costs of more than £1 million would be repaid thanks to energy savings from a reduced electricity bill with a payback period of approximately six years estimated.

The technology is to last 25 years meaning there will be a “significant period of zero cost and net zero generation” after the investment.

A council official told this week’s net zero and climate progress monitoring city policy committee: “Use of photovoltaic (panels) on the estate isn’t new – we have around 33 installations on buildings as of the end of last year.

“This proposed installation associated with this phase is pretty significant and is expected to more than double current energy generating capacity of installed solar on the estate.”

The panels will be fitted to Kelvin Hall, Dalmarnock Primary, Haghill Primary, St Bernards Primary, Camstradden Primary, Castleton Primary, Muirhead Rd Day Care Centre and Mallaig Rd Day Care Centre.

Firm Vital Energi has won the contract to put in the photo voltaic arrays. Cash will come from the council’s capital budget matched by a loan  from public body Salix worth £522,302.

It is estimated the phase 1 solar panel projects will save £182,000 per year. A feasibility study is now underway to look at adding solar panels to 37 other locations.