Car park solar roofs 'to cut council energy bills'

Canopies with solar panels are to be installed at leisure centre car parks in East Yorkshire to cut the council's power bills and reduce carbon emissions.

The carports at council-owned leisure centres in Beverley, Bridlington, Hornsea, Driffield and Pocklington would save about £100,000 a year on electricity bills, East Riding of Yorkshire Council said.

The structures would also cut CO2 emissions by 426 tonnes over the next 25 years, it added.

Councillor Paul West said: "This is a fantastic scheme to reduce our carbon footprint in an innovative way and use our existing council-owned facilities."

The carports will also be installed at Champney Treasure House and the council's Carnaby and Annie Reed Road depots.

The project is expected to deliver 430,650 kW of electricity per year across the sites, along with battery storage, at a cost of £900,000.

The authority added that the government-owned energy company Great British Energy had contributed £350,000 to the scheme.

While the panels are being put in place, some areas of the car parks will be closed. All installations will be complete by April.

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