LED streetlights and solar panels to help Dorset Council slash energy costs
Dorset Council is preparing to spend £2 million to replace streetlights and install solar panels on council buildings
Dorset Council is set to consider a £2 million investment aimed at cutting its energy bills and reducing carbon emissions, as part of its wider drive to lower costs and improve sustainability across council services.
Later this month, the council’s cabinet will be asked to approve £1.3 million to accelerate the replacement of older streetlights with energy-efficient LED units, alongside £700,000 for the next phase of solar panels on council-owned buildings.
The proposals form part of a £10m climate and ecology fund set aside in 2022/23 to run until 2027.
Around £6 million has already been spent on projects including energy efficiency improvements, electric vehicle charging infrastructure and earlier phases of LED lighting and solar installations.
Roughly £4m remains, with these two major projects now coming forward for approval.
Council officers say the investment will deliver long-term savings, improve reliability and cut emissions at a time when local authorities are under intense financial pressure.
Street lighting currently accounts for around 8% of Dorset Council’s own carbon emissions - under new plans, 4,000 older streetlight lanterns will be replaced by 2027.
The council estimates this could cut energy costs by around £115,000 annually and reduce its reliance on outdated lamp types that are becoming harder to replace,
Meanwhile, the £700,000 solar investment would save around 330,000 kilowatt hours of electricity a year, cutting bills by approximately £70,000, with the potential to generate additional income from exporting surplus power back to the grid.
Together, the LED and solar projects are expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by around 146 tonnes a year.
Council leaders say residents will benefit indirectly, with lower energy costs meaning more council tax can be spent on frontline services rather than utility bills.
Dorset Council leader and cabinet member for climate, Cllr Nick Ireland, said the proposals were “good housekeeping”.
“Investing now in LEDs and solar lowers our running costs for years to come and helps us deliver reliable, modern services across Dorse,” he said.