Stirling shines in solar power awards
A renewable energy accolade has been won by Stirling Council for its investment in solar power for its social housing stock.
The council’s housing service took the best residential solar and storage project award at the annual UK solar and storage awards 2019 in Birmingham out of a shortlist of four.
The award recognises improvements in energy efficiency, reduction in fuel poverty and carbon emissions.
Stirling Council housing spokesperson Evelyn Tweed said:“This award is deserved recognition for the staff in our Housing Service and confirms our position as one of the leading social landlords in solar and battery storage technology in the UK.
“We are leading the way in harnessing renewable energy to improve the service to our citizens and my praise goes to the team for their outstanding work.”
To date over 37,000 panels have been installed on more than 3,900 Stirling Council housing properties, generating an estimated 9,700,000kWh of free renewable electricity every year – and cutting emissions of 6,300 tonnes of CO2 every year.
In addition to reducing the energy costs for tenants, the council’s investment to date has resulted in 49 per cent of its housing stock meeting minimum energy efficiency standards for social landlords in Scotland 13 years ahead of schedule.
More than 330 housing property battery storage systems are set to be installed by March 2020.
Conservative councillor and environment and housing committee member Martin Earl said:“It’s good that the council are progressing these battery installations, and the officers deserve credit for that.
“However, there are far too many council tenants having to put up with poor, inefficient heating systems that are costing them a lot of money. Rather than being so quick to share in the limelight of an award I would expect the administration to be pushing for these to be removed and upgraded urgently.”