WREXHAM Council has secured funding to install solar PV panels on leisure centres in the borough.

The investment comes as part of the council's work to decarbonise buildings in the city and reach the net zero by 2030 targets for the public sector.

The £180,000 funding has been awarded by Welsh Government’s Assets Collaboration Fund and works in partnership with Freedom Leisure.

The new funding means the necessary advances can now be made in plans for the decarbonisation of public buildings.

Added to this is £128,232 of funding that Freedom Leisure has recently been awarded by the Sport Wales Capital Fund.

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Cllr David A Bithell, Climate Champion, said: “The solar PV installation is an innovative approach, which allows us to become more self-sufficient and substantially reduces the current energy being used from the grid, leading to a reduction in greenhouse gases and carbon savings.

“It also enables the generation of clean and sustainable local energy for use by the centres, which will act as a visible example of change that can be followed by other organisations and communities in Wrexham.”

Cllr Beverley Parry-Jones, lead member with responsibility for Leisure, said: “We want to lead by example with the things we are doing in response to the climate emergency, so we are delighted that we will be able to have solar PV panels on our leisure centres in Wrexham. They will be a very welcome addition which will help us to reduce our environmental impact considerably.”

Richard Milne, area manager for North Wales at Freedom Leisure, added: “We are delighted to be working alongside Wrexham Council on this essential energy saving project. Just like the council, we are committed to our Net Zero targets and to reducing the environmental impact of operating leisure centres.

“Renewable energy such as solar PV, is a key component to achieving this target and by working alongside our local authority partners, as well as our colleagues and customers to reduce energy use, we will all be playing our part in tackling the global crisis.”

Wrexham Council has also confirmed the awarding of a £30,000 Low Carbon Heating Development Grant by Welsh Government’s Energy Service which ensures that the £34,000 identified by the council will be able to deliver better value for money.

The funding will go towards developing designs for improvements to the heating systems at five sites requiring an upgrade. These sites were selected for the development work on the basis of their current high carbon emissions fuel type, levels of energy use and low DEC/EPC ratings.

The five sites, which will have low carbon heating systems designed are:

  • Abbey Road Transport Depot
  • Eyton Primary School
  • Froncysyllte CP
  • Minera Primary School
  • Ysgol Cynddelw