Here's comes the sun: Solar panels for Edinburgh council HQ

Solar panels are to be installed on the roof of the city council's headquarters at Waverley Court in the latest initiative to help cut the Capital's carbon emissions by use of alternative energy.
Edinburgh City Council's offices at Waverley Court are the last of six buildings to get solar panels in the latest phaseEdinburgh City Council's offices at Waverley Court are the last of six buildings to get solar panels in the latest phase
Edinburgh City Council's offices at Waverley Court are the last of six buildings to get solar panels in the latest phase

The council offices are the last of six buildings in the city being fitted with panels by the Edinburgh Community Solar Co-operative following a new share issue which was over-subscribed.

The co-op, set up seven years ago, already has 24 council-owned premises across the city, mostly schools and leisure centres, generating electricity from solar panels financed from its first share issue in 2015, which raised £1.4 million.

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This time the co-op wanted to raise £660,000 for the six buildings, but so many people wanted to take part that they raised more than £700,000.

Solar panels have already been installed by Edinburgh Community Solar Co-Operative at Craiglockhart Leisure CentreSolar panels have already been installed by Edinburgh Community Solar Co-Operative at Craiglockhart Leisure Centre
Solar panels have already been installed by Edinburgh Community Solar Co-Operative at Craiglockhart Leisure Centre

Shares were around £100 each and investors were offered interest of 4.5 per cent.

Former councillor Lesley Hinds, who chairs the co-op, said it was encouraging to see people ready to invest in solar and help the environment.

Nearly three-quarters of the investment - £437,000 - came from residents of Edinburgh.

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Ms Hinds said: "It's great that this is a co-operative which means the members are the ones that own the company and everything goes back into the co-operative or to members or we also have a community benefit scheme which meant some of the buildings in the first phase got gardens and recycling projects.

Co-op chair Lesley Hinds and Fiona Douglas, energy and sustainability manager at Edinburgh Leisure, see the solar panels at Craiglockhart Leisure Centre.Co-op chair Lesley Hinds and Fiona Douglas, energy and sustainability manager at Edinburgh Leisure, see the solar panels at Craiglockhart Leisure Centre.
Co-op chair Lesley Hinds and Fiona Douglas, energy and sustainability manager at Edinburgh Leisure, see the solar panels at Craiglockhart Leisure Centre.

“I think the majority of the people in Edinburgh wanted to invest because they believe the future is renewable energy and they are really up for the challenge of climate change."

Each building in the scheme produces electricity which is used by that building at a price agreed with the council and any excess goes to the national grid.

Ms Hinds said: “Particularly with the COP climate change conference coming to Scotland in 2021, it's great Edinburgh people are up for this and wanting to invest.

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“Hopefully the high level interest in the scheme means the co-operative can continue to look, not just with the council but with other community organisations, churches and others, at putting solar on their buildings. And the more we progress, the more people will be willing to consider it because they know what their bills are going to be and they are investing in renewable energy.”

The other five buildings in the second phase already have their panels installed and working – the council's transport depot at Bankhead, the Sighthill recycling centre, and the leisure centres at Craiglockhart, Kirkliston and Gracemount.

Green councillor Gavin Corbett, who is a member of the co-op board, said: “The solar co-op has been one of the quiet success stories in Edinburgh the last five years, getting on with installing and running panels on many public buildings, and all funded by community share issues.

"2020 has been a difficult year and the co-op has had to ride that out like so many businesses. But the success of our second share issue right in the middle of a pandemic shows demand is still there.

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“In this second phase I am delighted to see Craiglockhart Leisure Centre get panels and of course the council headquarters will be high profile one to add too. As Scotland hosts the global climate change summit, Edinburgh needs to show a lead on all fronts.”

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