‘Solar carports’ to be installed at East Yorkshire leisure centres

The canopies will help cut energy costs and reduce the council’s carbon footprint

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A number of East Riding leisure centres are set to undergo a green transformation this spring when solar canopies are installed in their car parks to slash both energy costs and carbon emissions.

The innovative carports will be rolled out at East Riding Of Yorkshire Council-owned sites in Beverley, Bridlington, Hornsea, Driffield, and Pocklington. Further installations are planned for the Carnaby and Annie Reed Road depots as well as the Champney Treasure House.

The ambitious scheme is expected to deliver 435kWp of solar generation across the selected sites, which will be co-located with battery storage technology to maximise efficiency. The project carries a total cost of £900,000, supported by a £350,000 award from Great British Energy, which is being administered by the Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Once operational, the canopies are forecast to generate 430,650 kilowatts of electricity per year, a move projected to save the council around £100,000 annually on electricity bills while reducing carbon emissions by 426 tons over the next 25 years. Councillor Paul West, cabinet member for environment and transport, welcomed the initiative, saying: “This is a fantastic scheme to reduce our carbon footprint in an innovative way and use our existing council-owned facilities, that will also bring down our long-term operating costs.”

While the work is underway, visitors and leisure centre members should expect some temporary disruption, as certain areas of the car parks will be closed during the installation process. The council has committed to communicating these closures to the public ahead of time to minimise inconvenience.

All installations are currently expected to be completed by April.

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