Car park solar panel plan rockets in price

Plans to install solar panels on the roof of the St Martin's Gate car park in Worcester are now in jeopardy due to a significant increase in costs. Originally, the Worcester City Council had proposed adding solar panels to the top of this five-story red brick car park, located on City Walls Road. The intention behind this project was to generate enough electricity to power the lifts, lights, and electric vehicle charging points at the facility. However, a recent report has revealed that the estimated cost of the project has surged from £463,250 to £604,365, which is an increase of £140,000. As a result, the council is considering postponing the project and will hold a meeting on September 3 to discuss the future of the solar panel installation. The council's Policy and Resources Committee had previously supported the solar panel initiative back in October. They believed that the installation of these panels could lead to annual savings of up to £58,000 on electricity bills and an impressive increase in energy production by nearly 450%. However, the new report indicates that, despite accounting for the increased electricity tariffs that the council now pays, the net return on investment for the project is only 0. 5%. This is a stark contrast to the 2. 5% return that was initially projected when the outline business case was approved in October 2023. In an effort to reduce costs, council officers are exploring the possibility of closing the top floor of the car park. This would eliminate the need for building solar panels on steel frames, which could help lower the overall installation expenses. However, this change would also mean losing 38 parking spaces from the total of 700 available in the car park. This news was reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which focuses on councils and public service organizations. For more updates, you can follow BBC Hereford & Worcester and share your story ideas.