Wrexham - 3,000 council homes will be powered by solar

Spotted in the Daily Post was this story about the go-ahead of a plan by Wrexham council to install £60m of solar panels in 3,000 council homes.

The installations will cut individual homes energy bills by around £300 a year.

With a carbon footprint reduction of 3,000 tonnes of CO2 a year, it makes this scheme one of the biggest of its kind in Wales and the UK, reports Steve Bagnall.

The panels will be supplied by a local manufacturer, with the whole installation scheme set for completion by March 2012.

Wrexham Council is borrowing the money for the installation, but tariff payments from the Government is expected to see the council make a healthy return on the investment.

The scheme will also directly tackle fuel-poverty in the area.

As we've seen, following the latest energy price rises by all 6 major energy companies, fuel-poverty is estimated to affect over a quarter of the UK population.

photo credit: hannah and simon