HI-TECH roof panels installed at Taunton Pool will generate enough electricity each day to power the daily consumption of ten average households.

The array of 146 solar PV (photovoltaic) panels, commissioned by Taunton Deane Borough Council, is now in place and already producing 90kWh each day for the pool’s use – the average household consumes about 9kWh per day.

The array, fitted by Earth Elements Ltd, of Barnstaple, who won the tender, cost around £70,000 and is funded from the council’s Climate Change budget.

Taunton Deane will receive the Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) subsidy from the Government, plus an income from selling all electricity generated on to Tone Leisure at a discounted rate.

Both elements could create an income of up to £10,000 per year over the 25-year lifetime of the array.

Earth Elements have used UK-made solar PV panels which come with a 25-year performance guarantee. The system is certified to withstand wind speeds of up to 112mph and is virtually invisible from street level.

A large LCD visual display will be installed in the pool’s reception area to tell visitors about the solar panels’ performance – the instantaneous electricity generation, the total energy generated since commission and the total CO2 saved since commission.

The array is anticipated to save about 18 tonnes of CO2 per year.

Climate Change Champion Cllr Ken Hayward said: “I’m delighted that this project has now been completed.

“Through it, not only does Tone Leisure benefit from reduced electricity costs, but Taunton Deane Borough Council, and, therefore, our rate payers, also benefits from a new revenue stream created from renewable energy.

“Taunton Deane Borough Council is also showing the ways for companies and individual households to embrace renewable energy.

Everybody wins.

“If anyone is considering installing renewable energy at their premises, please feel free to contact Torsten Daniel at the council on 01823- 256592 for some friendly advice on the benefits and how to go about it.”