THE council has installed solar panels providing the energy equivalent of charging 15 homes and millions of modern mobiles.
In collaboration with Custom Solar, Enterprise M3, and Portsmouth City Council, Winchester City Council (WCC) has installed solar panels at Biffa Winchester, in a bid to reduce carbon emissions and energy bills.
The council is supporting environmental initiatives by building and investing in large-scale renewable generation projects in the district. Energy is one of the council’s four main priorities for its Carbon Neutrality Action Plan (CNAP).
The photovoltaic (PV) solar panels development, in Barfield Close, will generate renewable energy being sold to Biffa at a discounted rate per kilowatt hour.
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Custom Solar and Portsmouth City Council delivered the WCC depot project, installing a 60kWp system to Biffa HQ in Winchester, equating to 134 solar panels. The solar project, funded by Enterprise M3, will produce 51kWh and reduce 11 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually for the site.
The project data suggests it will supply an equivalent of approximately 15 homes with full electrical demand and fully charge more than four million iPhone 12s.
Cabinet member for climate emergency, Cllr Kelsie Learney, said: “I am thrilled to see the completion of the solar panel installation at Biffa, and proud that businesses in our district are becoming more sustainable by generating renewable energy for their buildings.
“Winchester City Council is determined to reduce its own carbon emissions, and that of the district. Supporting and driving environmental initiatives like this one will create big leaps towards meeting our carbon neutrality goals and being greener faster.”
Sue Littlemore, Joint managing director at Enterprise M3 LEP, Sue Littlemore, said: “We are delighted to have supported this project through EM3’s Getting Building Fund and our Clean Growth programmes. This excellent project chimes well with our vision to make the EM3 area a leader in sustainable energy, and decarbonised, clean economic growth.”
Custom Solar CEO Gary Sucharewycz, said: “We are extremely proud to have conducted a solar installation at the Biffa waste management site in Winchester. The project has sought to continue the strong range of solar project delivery we are currently providing in the wider Hampshire region.
“This project is a great example of teamwork, working with our clients at Winchester City Council, Biffa and Portsmouth City Council to deliver this fantastic project.”
Biffa’s head of sustainability, Charlotte Scallon, said: “The installation of solar panels at our depot in Winchester will help stop almost 11 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) from entering the atmosphere each year.
“At Biffa we’ve already reduced carbon emissions by 70 per cent over the past 20 years. By continuing to divert waste away from landfill, increasing our operational efficiency and gradually replacing our diesel refuse collection vehicles with electric ones, we have committed to reduce them by another 50 per cent by 2030 and to have net zero emissions by 2050 at the latest."
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