The council's Renewable Energy Fund is a capital programme funded from the council's lower National
Insurance contributions arising from the introduction of the Climate Change Levy in 2000. The fund is
accessible to council services only and has enabled the attraction of around £4 million of additional funding
from the EU, UK Government and private investment.
SunCities
SunCities is a European Commission funded project which began in 2000 and was completed in February 2006.
The project aimed to install 3.05 megawatts of solar electricity on 2,000 homes in Germany, the Netherlands
and Kirklees in the UK. In Kirklees this includes a total of 351kWp solar electricity systems and 63 solar
thermal systems. Around 518 households were involved across Kirklees, including elderly tenants and families
with young children. They will benefit from free solar electricity and can expect to save up to £50 a year
on their electricity bills.
Through SunCities, Kirklees has installed 4.9% of the total solar electricity installed in the UK, making
SunCities the largest domestic solar project in the UK. The project attracted funding of up to £1.8 million
to Kirklees and attracted nationwide attention through winning an Ashden Award for Sustainable Energy, a
British Renewable Energy Association Award and a Green Apple Award.
The Sackville Street Solar Electricity (PV) scheme consists of a series of solar PV systems installed in
January 2003 on 31 tenanted properties owned by Kirklees Community Association and managed by Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing in Ravensthorpe, West Yorkshire. This project was one of the first
trials of solar electricity in domestic buildings in the UK (funded by the Department of Trade and Industry),
which led to the establishment of the UK's Major (PV) Demonstration Programme.
This initiative to create a solar village of 121 solar-powered homes was part of an overall regeneration
scheme for the Primrose Hill area in the Kirklees District.
This project created a solar village of 100 homes, including bungalows and flats, in the Fernside Estate,
managed by Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing, in Almondbury, Huddersfield. Two nearby schools have also been
supplied with domestic sized solar power systems which are now a valuable educational resource.
Titanic Mill is a Grade II listed textile mill in Linthwaite, West Yorkshire. The building has been
refurbished and converted to provide 130 residential apartments on the upper 5 floors and a spa/leisure
facility, a hotel and a restaurant and on the ground floor and part of the first floor. The building features
a roof mounted, 50 kWp photovoltaic system.
Roof integrated solar PV systems have been installed on two 40-bed new build care homes - Moorlands Grange in
Netherton and Castle Grange in Newsome, approximately 4 miles from Huddersfield town centre; and on four new
build sheltered housing bungalows - Mill Dale, Crescent Dale, Elm Grove and Orchard Grove in Heckmondwicke.
The homes have been built on the sites of old homes and will provide a high quality care service to people in
the Kirklees area through modern care facilities which will contribute to maintaining the dignity of
residents, encouraging residents to interact in a comfortable setting and participate in modern life. Each
home has a digital readout from the panels showing how much solar energy has been generated.
In June 2005 a 15kW Proven wind turbine was installed to provide renewable energy and an educational resource
for the school. The idea was conceived by the students and they were involved throughout, the project
received a Green Apple Award and was named as one of the top ten renewable energy projects of 2005 by Energy
Minister Malcolm Wicks.
Through this project a 15.36 kWp roof integrated solar electricity system has been installed as part of the
new build school. The school is an excellent site for a solar PV installation, it has a large south facing
roof and no shading. Measures in addition to the solar panels include rainwater harvesting and recycling,
automatic lighting controls and high efficiency heating. The building houses 380 pupils and 50 staff, the
solar panels are an educational resource for the school and a demonstration project for the community,
located in the heart of the Moldgreen, the project is highly visible. Funding of 50% of the project cost was
received from the UK Government's Major Demonstration Programme.
King James Science College and Lowerhouses J I & N
These schools were an integral part of the Fernside Solar Village project. Domestic size systems have
been installed at each school with digital displays showing how much solar energy is being generated at each
in order to maximise the educational benefits of renewable energy in school.
Civic Centre III, Huddersfield
Through the ZEN (Zero Emissions Neighbourhood) project this building now has solar electricity panels, solar
hot water panels and two 6kW wind turbines on the roof to provide electricity and heat water for the
building. Civic Centre III is in a busy area of Huddersfield town centre and is close to the ring road, a
shopping area and public buildings. Each week more than 1,350 people visit the building, including planning
and architectural professionals, council officials and the general public. This project is intended to be a
clear corporate statement by Kirklees Council showing how it is taking action to address climate change.
Two 15kW wind turbines have been installed on the playing field adjacent to the Deighton Centre. In
addition to being the council's training centre and housing council staff, the centre is a valuable
community resource. Adult education classes, sporting activities and community events are held here and the
building is often open in the evenings and at weekends. The project received grant funding from the DTi
(Department of Trade and Industry) Clear Skies fund.
Through the Simply Solar project residents in the Kirklees district were able to access funding to install
solar thermal systems to heat water. Simply Solar provided a top-up grant to the national Clear Skies grant,
this fund came to an end in March 2006. For more information on the current funding programme for householders
see the grants for renewable energy section
or see the website www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk.
SunCities is a European Commission funded project which began in 2000 and was completed in February 2006.
The project aimed to install 3.05 megawatts of solar electricity on 2,000 homes in Germany, the Netherlands
and Kirklees in the UK. In Kirklees this includes a total of 351kWp solar electricity systems and 63 solar
thermal systems. Around 518 households were involved across Kirklees, including elderly tenants and families
with young children. They will benefit from free solar electricity and can expect to save up to £50 a year
on their electricity bills.
Case study on Suncities (PDF 162kb)
In June 2005 a 15kW Proven wind turbine was installed to provide renewable energy and an educational resource
for the school. The idea was conceived by the students and they were involved throughout, the project
received a Green Apple Award and was named as one of the top ten renewable energy projects of 2005 by Energy
Minister Malcolm Wicks.
Through this project a 15.36 kWp roof integrated solar electricity system has been installed as part of the
new build school. The school is an excellent site for a solar PV installation, it has a large south facing
roof and no shading. Measures in addition to the solar panels include rainwater harvesting and recycling,
automatic lighting controls and high efficiency heating. The building houses 380 pupils and 50 staff, the
solar panels are an educational resource for the school and a demonstration project for the community,
located in the heart of the Moldgreen, the project is highly visible. Funding of 50% of the project cost was
received from the UK Government's Major Demonstration Programme.
Through the ZEN (Zero Emissions Neighbourhood) project this building now has solar electricity panels, solar
hot water panels and two 6kW wind turbines on the roof to provide electricity and heat water for the
building. Civic Centre III is in a busy area of Huddersfield town centre and is close to the ring road, a
shopping area and public buildings. Each week more than 1,350 people visit the building, including planning
and architectural professionals, council officials and the general public. This project is intended to be a
clear corporate statement by Kirklees Council showing how it is taking action to address climate change.
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