Wrexham Council has sought tenders for solar panel installations at three of its town centre buildings and is looking for a contractor to replace all three passenger lifts at the Guildhall, as solar income from the council’s housing stock runs more than £500,000 ahead of budget.
The council have been looking at a £100k plan to install solar photovoltaic systems at the Lambpit Street Offices, Wrexham Library and Wrexham Guildhall with work expected this year.
Separately, the council are looking to replace aging lifts in the Guildhall with a budget of £264k. Depending on what suppliers say, that might cover one or all of the lifts.
The solar investment comes as a budget update report shows the council’s social housing solar panels are generating significantly more income than forecast. The Housing Revenue Account budget report shows feed-in tariff income is expected to reach £2.207m against a budget of £1.7m, a surplus of £507,000.
The council installed solar panels on south-facing housing stock from around 2010 to 2011, when feed-in tariff rates from the UK Government were more competitive.
Council Leader Mark Pritchard said all practical south-facing properties had now been covered and acknowledged the economics of expanding further had changed.
“When we rolled it out, going back to 2010/11, the feed in tariffs are really, really competitive from UK government at the time. They’re not as good now. But clearly it’s anSom area where we’re looking at income generation across the HRA,” he said.
The council confirmed that all new properties it builds now receive solar panels as standard. The possibility of retrofitting further existing stock is under consideration, subject to a financial assessment.
The council leader cited Ty Pawb in Wrexham as an example of the returns possible from solar investment on non-residential buildings, “I’d invite you to go over to Ty Pawb and look on the roof…it probably covers 60% of the electricity now that we use in that is paid for by them, solar panels. That’s what I was told,” the council leader said.
He also said new school builds should include solar as standard, with any income generated going back into the building’s running costs.
Away from solar, the council confirmed that window replacement work is under way at its Ruthin Road offices as a decision had been taken to remain at the site, and therefore work was bringing the building up to the standard achieved at Lambpit Street and Crown Buildings.
At the Guildhall itself, plans for a broader refurbishment have not yet been approved. A £300,000 budget previously set aside for the Guildhall was withdrawn due to budget constraints, with the current work limited to the lift replacement and essential electrical and maintenance works – although it was noted that parts of the Guildhall were in a rough state, which also generated larger energy bills.
 
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