Agenda and minutes

            An apology was reported from Councillor R. Brooks.

            The minutes of the meeting of 16th April were taken as read and signed as correct.  It was reported that those minutes had been adopted by the Council at its meeting on 5th May.

            Councillor Lyons declared an interest, in that he was a Member of a Wind Energy Co-operative.  However, he did not feel that it was a conflict of interest given the nature of the discussions and therefore he did not leave the meeting.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

1.1       To provide an update on the progress on solar PV.

2.0       Recommendation

2.1       The Committee is asked to note that:

                                          I.          there are currently 1,311 domestic solar PV installations across Belfast contributing a total of 8.6 MW of renewable electricity against a potential generation of 1.1GW;

                                        II.          24 council buildings have been assessed (desktop) for their potential to host rooftop solar PV including five buildings which have had a more in-depth site assessment;

                                       III.          one of these assessments was used to secure €51,120 from the Shared Island Fund to install solar PV on Donegal Pass Community Centre which reduces carbon emissions by 13 tonnes CO2e/kWh annually saving £7000 per year;

                                      IV.          an Expression of Interest will be submitted to GB Energy to secure capital funding to support the installation of solar PV on selected Council buildings and to extend an interactive solar map developed in partnership with the Department for the Economy and GIA to create a web-based information portal to enable businesses and residents to see how much money they can save by installing solar PV; and

                                        V.          further market testing and modelling of a rooftop solar portfolio PPA business model has demonstrated the potential to provide generators with an export revenue (encouraging them to size solar systems to maximise available roof space and thereby increase total solar deployment) and enable local businesses to access competitively priced renewable electricity.

3.0       Main report

            Background

3.1       Solar PV represents the main opportunity for generating renewable energy within the city boundary due to the abundance of rooftops across the City. However, rooftop generation is still quite low in Belfast - there are currently 1,311 domestic solar PV installations across Belfast contributing a total of 8.6 MW of renewable electricity to the local supply. However, the potential generation is around 1.1GW. Rooftop solar Photovoltaic (PV) is therefore identified as a low regret option for decarbonisation in the Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP).

3.2       Analysis of rooftop solar PV potential of selected BCC buildings

            Belfast City Council (BCC) has been involved in a number of studies which have sought to assess the potential solar PV generation on selected buildings across the City. In December 2022, 11 of BCC’s high consuming buildings were included in a DfE funded study whereby Gordon Ingram Associates (GIA) analysed the solar PV potential of over 50 properties (both domestic and non-domestic) in the Belfast area.

3.3       In 2023, Belfast City Council partnered with Cork City Council on a Shared Island funded feasibility study that assessed the solar PV potential on a number of high consuming council sites in both Cork and Belfast. In Belfast, the potential solar PV generation for a further 10 council owned buildings was estimated against the electricity consumption for each building. Five buildings were also assessed in more detail through site visits including City Hall and Duncrue. In all, 24 council owned buildings were included across the three studies.

3.4       Installation  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

            The information contained in the report associated with the following item is restricted in accordance with Part 1 of Schedule 6 of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014.

      Resolved – That the Committee agrees to exclude the members of the press and public from the meeting during discussion of the following item as, due to the nature of the item, there would be a disclosure of exempt information as described in Section 42(4) and Schedule 6 of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014.

            The Members were advised that content of ‘restricted’ reports and any discussion which takes place during closed session must be treated as ‘confidential information’ and no such information should be disclosed to the public as per Paragraph 4.15 of the Code of Conduct.  

            The Climate Commissioner provided the Committee with an update on the progress which had been made to date with the District Heat Network, including heat mapping and initial feasibility assessment, market readiness, the Business model analysis, route to market analysis, engagement of off-takers, development of a procurement strategy and community opportunities.

After discussion, the Committee noted that:

·        the work had advanced the heat network project to a stage where approval would be needed to utilise the outputs of the work to date to move into a formal market engagement phase, lasting 6-12 months;

·        the cost of utilising the outputs of the work to date to move into a formal market engagement phase lasting 6-12 months would be assessed with a paper brought back in due course;

·        the Climate Team would work with the Director of Property and Projects and the Energy Manager to explore how readiness assessments of BCC buildings (to connect to a heat network) could be funded;

·        the Climate Team would engage with Estates to explore options for Belfast City Council land for an energy centre;

·        the Climate Team would continue to engage interested off-takers;

·        the Climate Team would work with the energy manager to establish a protocol to progress lower temperature testing in the winter months (2026);

·        the Climate Team would continue to explore funding opportunities through GB Energy, Shared Island Fund etc.;

·        an alternative date was still being sought for a visit to the Leeds heat network; and

·        the above next steps would be subject to approval by the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee at key stages throughout the programme.