Cornwall hits renewable energy milestone

Thousands of solar panels and heat pumps have been installed in Cornish homes

Cornwall has become the first local authority area in the UK to have more than 40,000 renewable energy installations, according to official figures.

The Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) - an organisation which monitors standards for renewable products and installations - said the county had 40,873 installations of items including solar panels and heat pumps.

MCS said to meet growing demand in Cornwall, the number of certified installers had risen to almost 100 in the county.

After Cornwall, MCS said North Yorkshire had the next most installations with 30,688, while Somerset had the third most with 29,988, Wiltshire was fourth with 24,237 and Aberdeenshire is fifth with 21,086.

Within the figures, MCS said there had been 29,179 solar panel installations in Cornwall along with 9,801 heat pumps, which use electricity to warm buildings by absorbing heat from the air, ground or water.

Councillor Martyn Alvey, Cornwall Council's cabinet member for environment and climate change, said homes using renewable energy would play a "big role" in the county's carbon neutral ambitions.

Mr Alvey said: "We are pleased to see the positive steps in the amount of renewable energy measures being installed to homes in Cornwall, through retrofitting and other improvements to make homes warmer, greener and cheaper to run."

The Microgeneration Certification Scheme said 9,801 heat pumps have been installed in Cornwall

Cornwall Council declared a climate emergency in 2019 and said it was committed to become a carbon neutral local authority by 2030.

As part of this, the council said it is increasing the amount of renewable energy generated locally, with about 40% of the county's energy reported to come from renewable sources.

Other projects earmarked by the council to help achieve this aim include planting 8,000 hectares (19,768 acres) of trees and hedges in the county and protecting existing trees, woodland and hedges.