Preston Town Hall roof to receive major solar panel upgrade

Thursday, 26 February 2026 13:33

By Central Radio News

Preston City Council has signed a contract to upgrade the rooftop solar panel array at Preston Town Hall.

The upgraded system will include 134 new high efficiency panels, creating a 60.3 kWp (kilowatt peak) installation which is around 15 to 20 times larger than a typical home solar set up.

The new array is expected to generate approximately 515,000 kWh (kilowatt hours) of clean electricity each year. This is enough to power more than 1,000 office computers for a year.

This clean energy generation will help the Council reduce carbon emissions by 9.1 tonnes each year and save around £11,600 annually in energy costs.

Councillor Suleman Sarwar, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, said: “This upgrade represents a major step forward for Preston Town Hall. Solar technology has come a long way since our original system was installed, and the new panels will produce almost twice as much clean electricity as before. By expanding the coverage across more of the roof, we are making the most of every opportunity to generate renewable energy on site.

‘’This investment will cut our carbon emissions, reduce running costs, and support Preston’s long‑term commitment to a greener and more sustainable future.”

The installation of the new system will take place in late April 2026.

The existing panels will be donated to Community Energy Preston, giving them a second lease of life and supporting wider community sustainability efforts.

Solargen Energy Ltd, a local company based in Bamber Bridge, will deliver the installation. As part of the contract, SolarGen Ltd will work with local colleges to provide training and guidance for young people considering careers in the green energy sector, supporting the Council’s Community Wealth Building programme.