Halton Borough Council Plans Solar Installation over Rooftops

Halton Borough Council, based in Lancashire, has announced its intention to install £10 million worth solar installation over the roof of its buildings and schools. The council is looking forward to follow the example of the other councils all over the UK in solar installation.

The council is presently calling for bids for the solar installation. The council is looking forward to utilize the tenders in identifying the roofs that are fit for solar installation, and the type and size of the solar PV panels required. The council is looking forward to install the solar PV systems and use them for a period of around 25 years. The council is contending with two viable options for the solar installation and in each option the council requires the tender takers to complete the installation and maintain the solar panels for a period of 25 years. Under the first option, the council will either buy or lease the solar panels from the contracting company and continue to spend money on installation and maintenance. The council will then retain all the power generated from the facility and its feed-in-tariff payments. Under the second option, the council will share the power generated from the facility and the feed-in-tariff payments with the bid winner and collect the rental for the roof on which the solar panels are installed.

In the first phase, the council is looking forward to complete the installation for 20 buildings before 31st March 2012. Halton is planning to deploy around 12 framework associates to complete the project in a period of four years.