£3.8 million car park solar farm will slash Northumberland County Council's energy bills

Councillor Glen Sanderson, Northumberland County Council Leader and Cabinet member for climate change (L) with David Mitchell, director of UK Power Networks Services (R)
-Credit:Northumberland County Council


One of the largest car park solar farms in the UK has been officially opened in Northumberland.

The state-of-the-art development at County Hall in Morpeth will provide 40% of County Hall's energy needs, saving Northumberland County Council between £100,000 and £150,000 a year on its energy bills.

The £3.8m project has seen a covered parking area installed with a canopy made from photovoltaic panels, saving an estimated 250 tonnes of carbon emissions every year.

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The development at the 40-year-old car park also includes new additional rapid chargers for electric vehicles as well as overnight charging options for the council's fleet vehicles. Speaking ahead of the development's grand opening on Friday, council leader and cabinet member for climate change Glen Sanderson welcomed the news.

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He said: "This is a historical moment for Northumberland County Council and one we should be very proud of. It’s great to see this initiative finally come to fruition which will save a massive amount on council energy supply spending and will also reduce the need for us to rely on fossil fuels to power our main building.

“I want to say a huge thank you to everyone involved in making this happen. It is a real example of using innovative technologies to move us towards a cleaner and more sustainable future.”

The council has set a target of halving its emissions by 2025. Alongside roof-based solar pv at County Hall, it is now thought that 50% of the building's significant energy needs will be met with solar power.

To help other councils or businesses considering similar initiatives, Northumberland County Council has published a detailed report outlining the project’s costs, savings, and environmental impact.

This transparency aims to serve as a useful guide for those looking to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels while reaping long-term financial benefits.

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The new solar infrastructure is the third-largest installation of its type in the UK. Coun Nick Morphet, leader of the council's Green group, was supportive of the development.

He said: "I've just had a look around it and I thoroughly approve. My thoughts are we shouldn't be putting a single solar panel on valuable farmland until every roof and every car park is covered in solar panels.

"It makes total sense. I would like to see more biodiversity around the solar panels, but it is one step at a time and this is a step in the right direction."

However, the Humshaugh councillor also stressed that electric vehicles (EV) aren't the entire solution for cutting emissions from transport.

He added: "It is better to drive to County Hall in an EV rather than one powered by petrol or diesel, but it would be even better to walk, cycle or get the train or bus."

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The project has been part-funded by the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020 with match-funding from the council, which it plans to recoup through energy savings.

James Elston, a renewable energy expert from Green Central, added: "Projects like this showcase how councils can lead by example in tackling climate change.

"For anyone looking to replicate this approach, this price guide will be invaluable in breaking down the costs and benefits of similar solar initiatives."