Local renewable energy generation offers several benefits, including reducing dependence on non-renewable energy sources, minimising transmission and distribution losses, fostering energy independence, and contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
Common sources of local renewable energy include, but are not limited to, the following:
The council aims to spread awareness of local renewable energy generation and has done so through the promotion of the Solar Together Scheme and the installation of solar panels on multi-storey car parks and new developments to increase the generation of local renewable energy.
The Council is currently reviewing, updating, and including new Local Plan policies that favour developments including local renewable energy generation as part of their features, for self-consumption and contribution to the power grid decarbonisation.
Working with the Hertfordshire Climate Change and Sustainability Partnership(opens in new window) (HCCSP) to developing the Solar Together Hertfordshire, a scheme to bulk buys solar panels and battery storage, to ensure residents can install high-quality, roof-mounted solar panels at a competitive price. This innovative scheme is part of the Solar Together programme runs by iChoosr which started four years ago and now runs across the UK.
Over 200 households in Stevenage had registered to become part of the group. There is no obligation to install the solar panels after registering. However, if all registered households went ahead with the installation, it could save approximately 200 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year (*reference A comprehensive guide to solar panels - Energy Saving Trust).
Find out more at Solar Together Hertfordshire (stevenage.gov.uk)
Feasibility study has been commissioned has been produced.
76 Solar panels were installed on the roof of the MSCP. As of December 2023, this has saved 9.18 tonnes of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere which is the equivalent to planting 13 trees.