The power of the sun will help a borough leisure centre save on its energy usage when new solar panels are installed later this year.

Dudley Council is investing more than £150,000 to add 416 solar panels to the roof of Duncan Edwards Leisure Centre in Dudley.

Once installed the panels are expected to save nearly 40,000 kg of carbon a year, equivalent to planting 2000 trees.

The panels will also generate an estimated 200 MWh every year, which based on the cost of energy would generate a large enough saving to cover the initial cost of the solar panels within five years.

Work on the installation is expected to take place later in the autumn. Councillor Dr Rob Clinton, cabinet member for climate change, said:

“We’re exploring all opportunities to reduce the energy we use as well as our carbon footprint as we work towards our goal of being net zero by 2030.

“This is a wise investment of council funds, which we will be able to recoup in the next five years but benefit from long term both financially and environmentally.

“The design of the leisure centre lends itself well to having solar panels installed and we’ve actually been able to expand the number of panels that the roof can accommodate to maximise every inch of space.”

The council is also currently exploring the possibility of installing solar panels on the roof of Crystal Leisure Centre.