A MILLION pound investment in solar technology has seen running costs slashed for schools, leisure centres and emergency service facilities throughout York and North Yorkshire.
Great British Energy grant funding of £1,063,000 has supported the installation of solar panels on the rooftops of 16 community buildings across the region. (see attached table)
The work is now complete at facilities in locations including Scarborough, York, Ripon and Northallerton, where the technology is bringing energy cost savings and major reductions in greenhouse gasses.
David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said: “Lowering bills and improving our environment means that 16 of our community buildings will spend less on energy and more on what matters – supporting people.
“Through the Mayoral Renewables Fund, we are moving in the right direction, towards becoming the first region in England to reach carbon negative by 2040.
“It’s a big goal, but it’s one we can reach one step at a time, all while supporting our communities right across York and North Yorkshire.”
Amongst those supported by the fund was North Yorkshire Police (NYP) and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (NYFRS), with solar panels fitted at six facilities throughout the region.
The authorities estimate the fund will enable total saving of more than 2000 tonnes of carbon emissions and more than £2.5million in electricity charges over the next 25 years.
Chris Pearson, Director of Estates & Sustainability, NYP & NYFRS Support Services “The police and fire services are seeing an immediate benefit of the scheme, with their joint Transport and Logistics Hub in Thirsk being powered entirely by renewable solar electricity during daytime hours in the first couple of weeks of April.
“Over the next few years this will significantly reduce both organisations' greenhouse gas emissions and help them achieve their decarbonisation targets.”
In York, Yearsley Swimming Pool is estimated to see savings of 1,430 tonnes in carbon dioxide, and £773,883 in energy costs, over the next 25 years. The pool is run on behalf of City of York Council by GLL.
Paul Bickle, GLL Partnership Manager, said: "The Yearsley Pool project is a fantastic example of partnership working.
“By securing this funding with the support of the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, and our local authority colleagues, we’ve been able to take a major step toward reducing both our environmental impact and operating costs.
“With rising energy prices placing real pressure on community facilities, the savings generated by this solar installation are significant and will help protect the future of Yearsley Pool for the people of York.”
Cllr Jenny Kent, Executive Member for Environment and Climate Emergency, said: “The Mayoral Renewables Fund has helped install solar panels on schools, leisure centres and community buildings across our city, cutting energy bills and carbon emissions at the same time.
“This means more money to spend on schoolbooks and swimming pools, cleaner air, and more money for frontline services that people rely on.
“Working with the Combined Authority and our partners, York is helping to lead the way in building a cleaner, more resilient future for the whole region.”
North Yorkshire Council’s leader, Cllr Carl Les, who is a member of the combined authority, said: “This funding is vital to help to continue our work to ensure that North Yorkshire is a more environmentally friendly place to live, work and visit.
“We are investing in green technology such as solar panels at our Active North Yorkshire health and wellbeing hubs in Ripon and Thirsk and our leisure centre in Whitby through the funding.
“This will help to not only protect the environment, but it will also mean that we can provide cheaper ways of generating energy, cutting our bills and allowing money to be invested in key services.”
The successful delivery of the projects comes less than a year after the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) announced the funding for York and North Yorkshire, through Great British Energy. In November DESNZ estimated the total savings to all projects to be £4million over the lifetime of the technology.
York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority is currently seeking the views of residents for its draft Strategy for a Sustainable Future. When published, the document will guide York and North Yorkshire’s ambition to become England’s first Carbon Negative region by 2040.
Take part in the public consultation visit here