Renewable energy

A number of measures have been taken to maximise our renewable energy potential, in line with the Carbon Reduction Plan. In total the Council has 3.4MWp Solar Photo Voltaic (PV) capacity across 13 sites. This includes:

  • Ground mounted 1.2MWp Solar Photo Voltaic (PV) array at Water Lane co-located with a 1MW/2MWh battery storage facility and a connection providing a renewable energy supply to our Operations Depot at Exton Road to support the electrification of the Council’s fleet, completed in January 2023.
  • 124kW PV array installed at Riverside Leisure Centre alongside a small battery store, completed in January 2023.
  • Battery storage technology also installed at Matford Centre and John Lewis car park, completed January 2023.
  • Solar PV panels installed on more than 800 City Council homes (around 17% of the Council’s housing stock), as part of a larger retrofit programme installing Solar PV, Ground Source Heat Pumps, Solar Domestic Hot Water and Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery systems.
  • An additional 16 kWp added to the existing 26 kWp array on RAMM roof in 2024.

 

The total generation and full breakdown for June to September 2024 is as follows:

  • Our solar arrays total 3.4 MW capacity
  • These generated 877,099.7 kWh of electricity
  • The lead to a carbon saving of 185.95 tCO2e
  • This is the equivalent CO2 Savings of 26,563 Trees*

*Based on approx. 7kg absorbed per Ash tree per year Source: Treeconomics ‘Valuing Exeter’s Urban Forest’ Report 2023.

 

Solar generation figures

On occasions where reads cannot be taken an average is calculated, these are marked in bold.

 

Solar generation 2024-25 (kWh)

Solar Sites

Size (kW)

Installation

Quarter 1

Quarter 2

Quarter 3

Quarter 4

Water Lane Solar Farm

1500

2023

404348.50

395023.00

 

 

Livestock Centre

1200

2016

310087.20

308902.63

 

 

Mary Arches Car Park

150

2015

45631.60

49879.80

 

 

John Lewis Car Park

122

2015

28476.40

35699.30

 

 

Riverside Leisure Centre

120

2023

38596.70

40091.00

 

 

Civic Centre (Phases 1 & 2)

70

2013

3376.62

4253.39

 

 

Materials Reclamation Facility

50

2013

5118.90

3892.50

 

 

RAMM

42

2015 & 2024

3351.03

3760.56

 

 

The Ark Store

40

2013

2853.50

8185.40

 

 

Clip ‘n’ Climb Centre

29

2015

9897.79

10268.54

 

 

Wat Tyler House

26

2015

7672.76

8239.97

 

 

Oakwood House

22

2013

6527.10

6399.60

 

 

Belle Isle

8

2015

2367.00

2504.00

 

 

When this content has been updated

Last updated 8 September 2026