Merton Council is generating more of its own energy and reducing carbon costs thanks to the new solar panel systems that have been installed across the borough.

Councillor Andrew Judge with Keith Dawson from Mark Group who installed the solar panels at Canons Leisure Centre which holds one of the larger systems in Merton with 642 panels in total

As part of its on-going solar energy programme, the council has added nine solar panel systems to the 13 systems already in place. The new systems have been placed on public buildings across Merton including Canons Leisure Centre, Pollards Hill Library and nine primary schools.

The new solar panel systems will generate around 350 megawatt hours of electricity a year – the same amount needed to power 87 Merton homes annually. So far the solar panels that are already in place have powered the same amount of energy needed to drive an electric car around the equator 68 times, helping to save money by reducing the council’s electricity bills as well as reducing carbon.

Cabinet member for environmental sustainability and regeneration, Councillor Andrew Judge, said: “I’m delighted to see so many solar panels being installed around the borough, these not only help to save money and cut running costs and carbon but they also enable the council to generate more of its own energy, helping to make Merton an even more sustainable borough.”

-ENDS-

Note to editors:

1. Solar panels have been installed at:

Benedict Primary School
Haselmere Primary School
Lonesome Primary School
Beecholme Primary School
William Morris School
SMART Centre
Merton Home Care
Canons Leisure Centre
Stanford Primary School
Cricket Green Primary School
Cranmer Primary School
West Wimbledon Primary School
Bond Road Primary School
New Horizon Centre
Pollards Hill Library
High Path Day Centre
Jan Malinowski Centre
Lavender Children’s Centre
Street sweeping and salt store
Merton’s transport offices and workshop
Merton’s corporate archive building