Solar panel plan for thousands of Sheffield buildings

Councillor Ben Miskell visits the renewable energy generation projects at Heeley City Farm in Sheffield

Thousands of city buildings could be equipped with solar panels under plans to introduce new large-scale renewable energy schemes.

Sheffield City Council said it was considering the idea alongside other suggestions for wind and solar opportunities as part of its "decarbonisation route map".

It said the proposals would contribute to its goal to be net zero by 2030.

The plans will be discussed at a council committee meeting on Wednesday.

According to the council, there are currently no large-sale wind or ground-mounted solar projects in Sheffield.

aA report due to go before councillors states that developing larger-scale projects is one of three objectives for the city, alongside decarbonising the heat supply to buildings and increasing renewable energy generation from small-scale systems.

Chair of the transport, regeneration and climate committee, Ben Miskell, said it was "vital that we act today to combat the climate emergency".

He said: "Delivering renewable energy schemes, such as solar farms, will help us achieve our aim for the city to be net zero by 2030.

"It is right that we are ambitious in our aim, but we cannot do it on our own, we need urgent action from government to provide more resources to help Sheffield achieve a more prosperous, net zero future for our city."

In 2016, a plan to fit solar panels to 6,000 council homes in Sheffield was scrapped "because of funding cuts".