Solar panels are set to be installed on a Barrow museum as the borough council aims to make good on its commitment to reduce carbon emissions.
Approval for the scheme at The Dock Museum has now been granted and will see three groups of solar panels totalling 156 sq m erected at the site.
Barrow Borough Council declared a climate emergency in July 2019 stressing the need to quickly decarbonise the area.
A planning and heritage statement submitted as part of the application for solar panels said the sunlight-absorbing cells would help to reduce the site’s reliance on non-renewable sources of energy as part of the council’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
Solar arrays – groups of solar panels – are to be installed on two south-west-facing roofs and one south-east-facing roof at the museum.
The arrays are to be around 78, 42 and 36 sq metres in size.
The borough council, on its website, outlines plans for Barrow to be net-zero carbon by no later than 2037.
In order to achieve its target, the council vows to:
- Reduce emissions from Barrow Borough Council’s estate and operations.
- Reduce energy consumption and emissions from homes and businesses in the borough.
- Reduce emissions from transport.
- Reduce consumption of resources, increasing recycling and reducing waste.
- Increase carbon capture to offset emissions.
- Increase public awareness around climate change.
Cllr Therese Assouad, the borough council’s lead member for the climate emergency, said: “I think it [the solar-panels scheme] is a really good start and it’s one that will be visible to quite a few people and hopefully it will encourage quite a few individuals to follow suit and take advantage of schemes available to different people.
“We are also looking at trying to improve all our housing stock to meet, as far as possible, better criteria for dealing with climate change.
“We are in the process of installing electrical charging points in quite a few car parks in Barrow itself.”
Final approval for the solar arrays on The Dock Museum was granted on Monday.
