Cornwall’s Biggest Solar Canopy: A New Chapter in Clean Energy at New County Hall

Cornwall Council is nearing completion of a large-scale solar canopy installation that will bring cleaner, cost-effective electricity to its head offices in Truro. This ambitious renewable energy project aims to boost the self-sufficiency of New County Hall, delivering significant energy savings and environmental benefits.

Powering Up New County Hall

A total of 543 new solar panels have been installed over the visitor and council pool vehicle carparks at New County Hall. Once operational, these panels are set to generate around 200,000 kWh of electricity annually, enough to power the equivalent of 74 homes. This renewable energy source will cover nearly a third of the building’s electricity requirements, helping reduce the council’s annual energy expenses while enhancing energy resilience.

The new canopy is expected to lower the council’s carbon emissions by approximately 50 tonnes each year. With a capacity of 230 kilowatts, this renewable power addition is part of Cornwall Council’s ongoing work to increase the renewable energy output across its buildings, aiming to add a further 10 megawatts by 2030.

A Blueprint for Cornwall’s Energy Future

The solar canopy joins other recent sustainable energy installations, including solar panels on the roof of New County Hall, which currently meet a quarter of the building’s energy needs. Together, the rooftop and canopy arrays will allow over half of the building’s electricity to be powered by renewable sources, creating a more sustainable and cost-effective energy solution.

Martyn Alvey, Cornwall’s cabinet member for environment and climate change, called this installation Cornwall’s largest solar canopy and a “flagship scheme” within the council’s renewable energy agenda. “It underlines our firm commitment to tackling the climate emergency and we hope this exciting project could act as a demonstrator and blueprint for similar projects elsewhere,” Martyn said. He also noted the project’s alignment with Cornwall’s developing Local Area Energy Plan, which encourages residents to participate in shaping the future of energy in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

David Harris, Cornwall’s deputy leader and cabinet member for resources, highlighted the canopy’s role in energy security and cost reduction, stating, “Taken together, our new solar canopy and rooftop array will mean that more than half of the energy powering New County Hall will be renewable, making it more self-sufficient, significantly reducing its running costs and giving us better energy security.”

Council’s Broader Renewable Energy Efforts

The solar canopy is part of a series of council-led green energy projects. In addition to New County Hall, Cornwall Council has installed a 49-kilowatt solar system at Kresen Kernow in Redruth, reducing CO₂ emissions by approximately 12 tonnes per year. Other installations include solar panels at St John’s Hall in Penzance, South Wheal Crofty in Pool, and Stoke Climsland School, supported by the council’s £20 million Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Technology Fund.

To learn more about Cornwall Council’s carbon-neutral plans, visit their action plan page.