Green light for 1,200 solar panels to be fitted at sports centre – BBC

Manx Utilities has been granted planning approval to for 1,200 rooftop solar panels to be installed at the National Sports Centre (NSC) in Douglas.
The solar panel project has described as a "key milestone" in the authority's wider Energy Transition Programme.
The scheme will make use of existing roof space at the NSC to generate 735 kW of renewable electricity.
Manx Utilities hopes the initiative will offer experience to support the delivery of larger-scale rooftop solar projects elsewhere on the Island, as well as their ongoing management.
The programme was set up after Tynwald voted, in October 2022, to support the Climate Action Plan 2022-2027, which commits Manx Utilities to decarbonising the Island's power system by 2030.
Proposals include commissioning up to 10MW of solar panels across public buildings and car parks, and the deployment of at least 20MW of onshore wind generation by the end of 2026.
However, the wind generation proposals remain in the pre-application phase at this stage.
The installation of solar panels at the National Sports Centre was one of the initiatives championed by the late John Wannenburgh MHK, who had orginally hoped that panels would be fitted by November 2025.
It is part of Manx Utilities' long-term vision to strengthen the Island's energy independence.
Manx Utilities said it would now move forward with the next stage of development, including detailed designs, procurement, a final investment decision and delivery planning, subject to the necessary governance and approval processes.
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The solar farm in south Cambridgeshire could power more than 13,000 homes, a plan says.
The development near Blackhall Rocks in County Durham will have more than 83,000 panels.
The scheme near Hawick includes both solar panels and battery energy storage elements.
Construction of the delayed 43,000-panel solar farm is expected to begin later this year.
The solar farm near Craghead is approved on appeal after previously being rejected.
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