Solar panels on several council buildings ‘not working’

An investigation found solar panels at nearly a quarter of council sites in Haringey were not working properly.

Figures obtained by the Lib Dems showed that of 39 Haringey Council-owned sites containing solar panels, nine (23%) had panels that were not in operation.

The council says a contractor will get the systems working fully “as soon as possible”.

Opposition councillors began their enquiries after being told by the Friends of Hornsey Library group that the panels on the library building were not working and had never been switched on since their installation two years ago. The panels were finally switched on for the first time earlier this month after the matter was escalated to senior council officers.

Eight other council-owned buildings, including Rhodes Avenue School in Wood Green, Shelley House in Hornsey and Sophia House in Tottenham, were subsequently found to have solar panels that were either faulty or not working.

The local authority was unable to say how long the panels on the eight sites had been non-operational, and it could not provide details of the total financial or carbon cost to the council.

However, it has estimated that not having the panels switched on at Hornsey Library could have cost taxpayers £1,200 this year in paying for additional energy from the grid, without taking account of any excess electricity that could have been sold back or the carbon impact.

Scott Emery, the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for environment, said: “It is totally crazy that, in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, in large part down to soaring energy costs, the council has failed to turn on the solar panels on Hornsey Library for two years, and that a quarter of council buildings with solar panels don’t actually have them running.

“Not only is this a failure in terms of our net-zero carbon commitments, it is a major expense to taxpayers to have to pick up the tab for the more expensive energy the council is buying.

“Thankfully, the Friends of Hornsey Library discovered and raised this matter and the library solar panels have now been switched on for the first time in two years, but we urge the council to look to get their full stock of panels in operation as soon as possible.”

Mike Hakata, deputy leader and cabinet member for climate action, environment and transport, said: “We’ve installed solar panels on more than 40 council and community sites, helping us generate substantial renewable energy, cut emissions and tackle climate change.

“All these panels were certified and working when fitted. A number have been installed at schools and leasehold buildings across the borough, but it was not brought to our attention that panels at eight of these sites weren’t functioning properly.

“A contractor will be getting these systems fully working as soon as possible so they can continue to cut the properties’ carbon footprint.”