Cornwall Council leaders hope solar canopy will cut energy bills

Cornwall Council hopes the canopy will generate enough to power a third of the building's energy needs

A "solar canopy" is to be installed over a car park at Cornwall Council's headquarters in Truro.

It's hoped the 543 solar panels above the visitors' car park at New County Hall will eventually supply a third of the building's energy needs.

Work is due to start in January aimed at significantly reducing running costs and the council's carbon footprint.

A quarter of the building's power already comes from solar panels on the roof.

'Huge step forwards'

Councillor Martyn Alvey, Cornwall's cabinet member for environment and climate change, said the 230-kilowatt project could act as a blueprint for similar schemes elsewhere.

"This new solar canopy is a huge step forwards in our ambitions to generate renewable energy and decarbonise our council buildings," he added.

The canopy will be built over the visitor and council pool vehicle car parks at the front of New County Hall.

The work has been funded through the council's £20m Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Technology Fund.

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