Published on:
07
March 2013
Solar panels have been installed on the roof of Kilncraigs as part of Clackmannanshire Council's major redevelopment of the building.
It is due to become the Council headquarters later this year when both Greenfield House and Lime Tree House close, with staff moving to the redeveloped building.
This week Councillor Donald Balsillie, Convenor of the Enterprise and Environment Committee, inspected the new energy saving panels on the roof of the building which will become the Council headquarters in the autumn.
He was joined on the roof top by Marshall Construction site manager Colin Paterson, who explained to the Convenor the full effect the panels will have on the building.
Councillor Balsillie said: "Architects, as part of the major redevelopment of the Kilncraigs campus realised that the south-facing traditional saw-tooth roof of the former mill building was ideal for the installation of the panels.
"These panels generate electricity from sunlight and will contribute to the electricity used in the building by IT equipment in particular."
Councillor Balsillie saw for himself how the photo-voltaic solar panels do not compromise the appearance of the historic Kilncraigs building, which was built in 1936.
The array of panels will generate 23 kW of electricity at peak output - enough power to power 100 desk top computers.
Councillor Balsillie added: "I am told the output of the system depends on the amount of light available of course, and varies, but in a typical year can be expected to generate between 16,000 and 17,000 kWh of energy, which is a real saving."
The new panels are connected to the building electricity installation and will offset electricity used from the grid. Almost all of the electricity generated will be used in the Kilncraigs building.
Councillor Balsillie added: "Should the panels generate more electricity than is required within the building then the excess will be exported to the grid."
The installation of the solar panels at Kilncraigs follows on from last October when the council gave the green light as part of the budget strategy, as services across the Council continue to prepared for the setting of the Council's budget for 2013/14.
This installation is the first 'spend to save' scheme of solar panels installed onto appropriate public buildings owned by the Council.
This will both reduce long term carbon emissions and ultimately generate income for the Council. It is latest of server initiatives introduced by the Council to reduce its carbon footprint.