Denbighshire County Council’s Exceeds Renewable Energy Target

Energy & Environment , 10th June 2022

Energy from renewable sources has increased across Denbighshire County Council’s owned and occupied buildings

Denbighshire County Council’s Corporate Plan 2017-22 included a focus on the preservation of the natural environment.

The Council also declared a Climate Change and Ecological Emergency in July 2019 and committed to seeking to become a Net Carbon Zero and Ecologically Positive Council by 2030.

A target was set to double the amount of energy from renewable sources used in council owned and occupied buildings between 2017 and 2022 as part of the corporate plan environment priority.

The Council has since signed up to a Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGO) backed energy tariff so that all purchased electricity is from certified renewable sources.

Efforts have also been made to generate the Council’s own electric from installed renewable energy generation.

At the start of April 2017 the council had 147.8kWp of installed renewable energy. As of April 2022 the council property section has increased the installed capacity of renewable energy to 539.62kWp, more than tripling the installed capacity.

This increase has been achieved primarily through roof mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) panels. An additional 338kWp is due to be installed by the end of this financial year.

Steve Gadd, Head of Finance and Property Services, said:

“We are pleased to have delivered successful projects such as Ysgol Dinas Bran where on site carbon emissions have been reduced by over 30 percent by installing solar PV, modifying heating controls and LED lighting.

“The Council has also started installing air source heatpumps and battery storage to further reduce electricity demand and carbon emissions. This is on top of other work that is reducing consumption through the installation of LED lighting, loft and wall insulation, improved draught proofing and modification of heating systems to further reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

“The Council’s energy team has also been running lessons in schools educating the pupils about the carbon reduction measures that have been installed in their school and also advising how they can reduce their own energy use and emissions at home.”

Mae defnydd ynni o ffynonellau adnewyddadwy wedi cynyddu ar draws adeiladau sy’n berchen ac yn cael eu meddiannu gan y Cyngor.

Mae Cynllun Corfforaethol 2017-22 Cyngor Sir Ddinbych yn canolbwyntio ar gadwraeth yr amgylchedd naturiol.

Fe ddatganodd y Cyngor hefyd Argyfwng Newid Hinsawdd ac Ecolegol ym mis Gorffennaf 2019 ac mae wedi bod yn ymroddedig i ddod yn Gyngor Di-garbon Net ac Ecolegol Gadarnhaol erbyn 2030.

Gosodwyd targed i ddyblu faint o ynni o ffynonellau adnewyddadwy a ddefnyddir mewn adeiladu sy’n berchen ac yn cael eu meddiannu gan y Cyngor rhwng 2017 a 2022 fel rhan o flaenoriaeth amgylcheddol y cynllun corfforaethol.

Ers hynny mae’r Cyngor wedi cofrestru ar gyfer tariff ynni sy’n cael ei gefnogi gan gynllun Gwarantau Tarddiad Ynni Adnewyddadwy (REGO) fel bod yr holl drydan sy’n cael ei brynu yn dod o ffynonellau adnewyddadwy ardystiedig.

Gwnaed bob ymdrech hefyd i gynhyrchu trydan y Cyngor ei hun drwy gynhyrchu ynni adnewyddadwy sydd wedi’i osod.

Ar ddechrau mis Ebrill 2017 roedd gan y Cyngor 147.8kWp o egni adnewyddadwy wedi’i osod. O fis Ebrill 2022 mae adran eiddo’r Cyngor wedi cynyddu capasiti’r ynni adnewyddadwy sydd wedi’i osod i 539.62kWp, sydd dros dair gwaith y capasiti sydd wedi’i osod.

Mae’r cynnydd hwn wedi’i gyflawni’n bennaf drwy ddefnyddio paneli solar ffotofoltäig wedi’u gosod ar y to. Mae 338kWp ychwanegol yn mynd i gael ei osod erbyn diwedd y flwyddyn ariannol hon.

Dywedodd Steve Gadd, Pennaeth Gwasanaethau Cyllid ac Eiddo:

“Rydym yn falch o fod wedi darparu prosiectau llwyddiannus fel Ysgol Dinas Bran lle mae allyriadau carbon ar y safle wedi’u lleihau o 30 y cant drwy osod paneli solar ffotofoltäig, addasu rheolyddion gwresogi a gosod goleuadau LED.

“Mae’r Cyngor hefyd wedi dechrau gosod pympiau gwres ffynhonnell aer a storfa barti i leihau’r galw am drydan ac allyriadau carbon ymhellach. Mae hyn ar ben gwaith arall sy’n lleihau’r defnydd drwy osod goleuadau LED, inswleiddiad wal ac atig, gwell system atal drafftiau ac addasu systemau gwresogi i leihau allyriadau carbon deuocsid ymhellach.

“Mae tîm ynni’r Cyngor hefyd wedi bod yn cynnal gwersi mewn ysgolion yn addysgu’r disgyblion am y mesurau lleihau carbon sydd ar waith yn eu hysgol a’u cynghori o ran sut allent leihau eu defnydd ynni a’u hallyriadau gartref.”