Sights set on solar in Glasgow
Eight sites across Glasgow are set to benefit from solar arrays thanks to an ambitious project lead by Glasgow City Council.
An ambitious scheme led by Glasgow City Council will see solar arrays installed at eight sites across the city. Works are set to take place at five primary schools, two adult day care centres and one community venue.
Our team was on site to see three of the sites set to benefit from the works – Mallaig Road Day Care Centre, Haghill Primary School and Kelvin Hall – to discuss the vision and expected outcomes the works will have for the individual sites and council as a whole.
Collin Little, project officer (sustainability) at Glasgow City Council, said: “When completed, this will provide 900Kw peak generation across all of the arrays.
“In addition to fiscal savings across the Glasgow estate, it will also contribute toward us reaching our net zero targets.”
In addition to fiscal savings across the Glasgow estate, it will also contribute toward us reaching our net zero targets.
Sites set to benefit from the works incorporate Dalmarnock Primary School, Haghill Primary School, St Bernards Primary School, Camstradden Primary School, Castleton Primary School, Muirhead Road Day Care Centre, Mallaig Road Day Care Centre and Kelvin Hall.
The £1,044,605 project will see solar panels installed on the roofs of all buildings by autumn this year. Once functional, it is expected to save the council £183,064 on their annual energy bills and 158.41 tonnes of carbon emissions every year. A carbon emission reduction of this size is roughly equivalent to the average emissions of 19.5 UK households.
To finance the works, the council were awarded receive £522,302 in funding through the Salix Energy Efficiency Loan Scheme (SEELS), which is delivered by us on behalf of the Scottish Government. The scheme offers zero-interest loans to the public sector to facilitate energy efficiency improvement projects that result in financial and carbon savings and contribute towards achieving their net zero aspirations.
About the sites
Kelvin Hall is an iconic venue with a strong historical significance to the city and people of Glasgow. Built in 1927 to house large-scale national and international exhibitions, it has been home to many sporting, musical and circus events throughout its years, including the Transport Museum.
Today, the Kelvin Hall operates under a unique partnership between charity Glasgow Life, the University of Glasgow and the National Library of Scotland. It is home to a centre of cultural excellence, providing access to collections, temporary displays, teaching and research, and even incorporates a health and fitness centre, soft play and clip n’ climb.
The installation of a solar array at the Kelvin Hall will be the largest array fitted as a part of the project, with green energy generated through the panels expected to satisfy around 15% of the buildings total energy consumption needs.
Haghill Primary School and Nursery Class is located on Cumbernauld Road in the east end of Glasgow city. The school supports around 180 students aged from three through to 12.
As a part of their tendering process, the council have procured for a contractor who could incorporate an education programme for the children to ensure they understand the significance of the works. Vital Energi was awarded the contract, with their education programme designed to inspire the next generation and empower them to take action to propel us towards net zero.
Mallaig Road Day Care Centre is a day care centre providing care for old people and adults with dementia. They care for up to 35 adults each day with an average age of around 75-90 years old.
The centre boasts a hair dressing facility, daily activities and social events that aim to keep attendees connected with others and their community.
The works are a hot topic of discussion for those using centre services, and attendees have raised a genuine interest in wanting to understand the difference the panels will make and what they may be able to do in their daily lives to reduce their own environmental footprint.
Zoe Hurst, programme coordinator at Salix, said: “We’re very excited to be working with Glasgow City Council on this project.
“The buildings set to benefit from the installation can also be seen as an example of diverse communities that are making changes and getting involved in our fight to address the climate crisis.”
You can find out more about the Salix Energy Efficiency Loan Scheme (SEELS) and other schemes delivered in Scotland on our website. Keep an eye on our website over the coming weeks as we share more information about the works at each of the three sites we visited, including videos where key stakeholders speak to anticipated outcomes.
The buildings set to benefit from the installation can also be seen as an example of diverse communities that are making changes and getting involved in our fight to address the climate crisis.
