Portsmouth has spent £5m on solar power in six years - the highest amount in the UK

Data gathered by The Solar Centre showed Portsmouth City Council has invested £4,995,707 between September 2014 and October 2020 in solar energy, placing it above all other local authorities.

In that time solar panels were installed on 373 council-owned buildings - including schools, houses and the civic offices, creating 7,935,872 kilowatt-hours per 100,000 of capita.

Councillor Dave Ashmore, the council's environment boss, said solar would continue to be a 'key technology' in the city.

'It's fantastic to see Portsmouth City Council topping the charts when it comes to installing solar PV (cells),' he said.

'The renewable power that our solar panels produce, reduces the council's carbon emissions by more than 1,300 tonnes of CO2 every year. It is win-win, because the solar also saves money from our electricity bills and generates income as well.

'It is for these reasons that we are committed to installing more solar in coming months across our buildings portfolio; in projects like the one at Portsmouth International Port, which will deliver our largest system yet.'

It comes as the council announced the launch of a new scheme in January that will increase the number of homes fitted with solar panels. The online Switched On Solar tool will allow homeowners to see if their property is eligible for panel fitting – which could affect up to 32,000 homes.

And in October last year the authority announced the installation of a 250 kilo-watt solar system on the roofs of the Hilsea Industrial Estate, which is thought will cut the city's use of grid electricity by 50 per cent.

Director of The Solar Centre, Brian Davenport, added: 'Of course, there are many areas councils need to invest in besides solar, but it is always nice when we see the likes of Portsmouth, Merton and Plymouth continually showing passion and investment in solar energy in their city.'

Funding for the solar panels has mostly come from council borrowing.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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