Cash for solar farm on golf course

HALTON Borough Council will stump up more than half a million pounds to help to build a solar farm on part of a former Widnes golf course blighted by arsenic.

A Full Council meeting was advised of proposals concerning the southern part of St Michael’s Golf Course off Dundalk Road.

The executive board had already given the green light to develop the site at a meeting in October.

At the full meeting on Wednesday, December 7, it was recommended the council amend a capital programme to provide 50% of the funds for the development.

Under the European Regional Development Funding (ERDF) Renewable Energy Scheme guidelines, the council must pay half of the £1.3m of the estimated cost, while the ERDF stumps up the remaining £650,000.

The document which the executive board viewed in October said the planned solar farm would have 4,000 panels connected to the Halton Stadium – the home of Widnes Vikings – through a private wire.

The panels would have a lifespan of up to 30 years with the energy produced reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 380 tonnes every year.

The report said: “It is estimated that the stadium will use approximately 50% of the energy generated and this will significantly reduce the stadium’s running costs over the next 25-30 years.

“Options to use the surplus electricity at other council facilities will be explored as part of the scheme.

“If this is not feasible an income will be generated by putting the electricity back into the grid or selling it to a third party via a power purchase agreement.”

Extra electricity generated by the site could raise £18,000 a year, while the council estimates it will cost between ● The golf £10,000 and course entrance £15,000 annu

ally to maintain the solar farm.

The report added: “The income generated from the sale of electricity will offset the annual operating costs of the scheme.

“The scheme will bring back into use a council asset that has been unused for some years and is unsuitable for major development.

“It will contribute to the council’s targets to reduce carbon emissions and will demonstrate local leadership in promoting locally generated renewable energy, removing the reliance on traditional fossil based fuels.”