Solar power could be used at more public buildings

Mid Devon District Council said three of its leisure centres had some form of renewable energy provision

A council has said it is investigating expanding its use of solar panel after the installation of panels on its leisure centres helped to combat emissions.

Mid Devon District Council's cabinet heard three of its leisure centres had some form of renewable energy, including solar panels and heat pumps, which had reduced running costs and lowered carbon emissions.

The council said its carbon emissions for the 2024 to 2025 financial year had risen by 2% to 18,364 tonnes.

In spite of the overall rise, emissions from its buildings and social housing stock had reduced, while emissions from its fleet of vehicles remained broadly unchanged, the council said.

Emissions at its leisure centres had dropped around 17% from 585 tonnes of CO2 to 484 tonnes, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Jason Ball, Mid Devon's climate and sustainability specialist said: "We're looking at installation [of solar panels] on other assets and we hope to have an announcement on that soon."

He added that the council had recently been ranked in the top 20% of similar local authorities for its climate action, and that it had made real improvements.

Councillor Gwen Duchesne, cabinet member for parish and community engagement, said the overall rise "obscured our cut to emissions."

"We are focusing on elements in our control and we act on opportunities to invest and act to influence those we do business with," she said.

Councillor Luke Taylor, leader of the council, said the work to cut the council's emissions had been "phenomenal".

"This council is still persevering with our Net Zero targets and we are not denying the climate change that is very much impacting the entire planet," he said.