Court's £½m solar power system sees light of day

Published on Monday 23 June 2008 22:42

SCOTLAND'S biggest solar panel system has been completed, promising to slash hundreds of thousand of pounds from the cost of running Europe's busiest court.

The roof of Glasgow Sheriff Court has been transformed by the installation of hundreds of 3ft by 2ft solar panels, which will provide up to a fifth of the massive building's energy demands.

At a cost of 500,000, the electricity-generating system will save about 20,000, at current prices, from the court's annual fuel bill.

With an estimated lifespan of 40 years, the solar panels will save the taxpayer an estimated 300,000. But with fuel prices likely to rise in future, the savings may be much bigger.

Experts say the development is likely to signal an upsurge in solar heating of homes and businesses, as increased access to government grants and rising fuel bills, combined with tough new emissions targets, encourages investment in what remains an expensive technology.

The solar panels covering 7,500sq ft of the court's roof will also offset nearly 40 tonnes of carbon dioxide created by the power consumed to heat and light the building. Most of the funding for the project has come from the UK government's Low Carbon Buildings Programme.

The Scottish Government has announced an ambitious target to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases in Scotland by 80 per cent in an effort to tackle global warming.

The Scottish Court Service faces a massive challenge to meet that target, as many of its courtrooms based in old buildings that are highly energy-inefficient.

More than 2 million was spent heating and lighting Scotland's courts last year.

Eleanor Emberson, chief executive of the Scottish Court Service, said: "We are planning further investment on building and energy management systems to significantly cut the court's energy consumption, which will mean the solar panels can contribute even more of our power requirements.

"We are committed to improving the energy efficiency of our court buildings and our initiatives range from this large solar project at one of Europe's busiest courts to our plan to install a ground source heat pump to support the energy requirements of Lochmaddy Sheriff Court."

Kenny MacAskill, the justice secretary, claimed the SNP government was tripling funding to encourage householders, businesses and community groups to generate their own renewable energy.

"This project is a good example of the kind of low carbon technology that will make a significant contribution to Scotland's future prosperity and help build increased, sustainable economic growth."

While the panels remain too expensive to offer a practical option for domestic customers, Friends of the Earth Scotland said costs were likely to become much more financially viable for ordinary households.

Spokesman Owen Davis said: "Photovoltaic systems, which generate electricity, are much more expensive than panels that produce hot water alone.

"But the economics are shifting very fast. The grants available and the uncertainty over future energy prices make it a much more cost-effective."