Climate Change and Air Quality Progress Report 2023 to 2024
The council’s operational estate
Operational Buildings
Installation of Solar PV and Battery Storage Systems at Council Buildings (re Action 17)
Following a feasibility study that had identified the potential for the installation of solar PV and battery storage systems at several Council owned sites, approval was given on 13th October 2022 to release capital from the Climate Change Fund to install the technologies Lot 1 of ESPO’s Renewable Energy Solutions Framework (Reference 2838_23) was used for the procurement exercise to secure a suitable supplier. Bright Spark Energy was awarded the contract, which was ratified on 3rd April 2024, and has completed the workat four sites across our operational estate. Case studies about the projects, prepared by our supplier, are available via the links below:
The systems add an additional 80kWp of solar PV installed capacity and 89kWh of battery storage capacity. 66% of the renewable energy generated will be used by the sites, reducing the council’s annual electricity consumption, costs and carbon emissions by 41MWh, £18k, and 9 tCO2e. The electrification of the council’s fleet and heating systems in due course will result in more of being consumed onsite.
Figure 15: Aylesbury Family Time Centre
Figure 16: Castlefield Family Centre (High Wycombe)
Figure 17: Solar PV & battery storage at Hazlemere Library
Figure 18: Model & picture of the installation at Chesham Library
Chesham Library Renovation (re Action 17)
In addition to the installation of solar PV and battery storage technologies at the site, Chesham Library has also benefited from the following being integrated into its renovation:
- air source heat pump
- LED lighting
- solar film
- additional loft insulation
The air source heat pump and LED lighting are much more efficient than the technologies that were present in the building. Additional loft insulation will reduce the amount of heat being lost, thereby reducing the demand on the heating system; and solar film will reduce solar gain, thereby reducing the demand on the cooling system.
Figure 19: Some of the measures installed at Chesham Library
New builds and expansions
School feasibility studies (re Action 18)
Two new schools are currently in the feasibility stage; a second primary school for Kingsbrook and a new Primary School for the Hampden Fields development in Aylesbury. The objective for both of these schools is to be net zero in operation.
Street lighting
Street light LED retrofit progress (re Action 19)
Between October 2023 and September 2024 a further 2,750 streetlights have been retrofitted with LEDs. This brings the proportion of our street lights which have been upgraded to 98.03%, with a further 599 to be retrofitted. We remain on track to meet our target of completing this retrofit Programme, subject to funding, by 2025.