Solar panels put on at least 30 council buildings across Cornwall before Christmas 2011 will save Cornwall Council £100,000 a year on energy bills.

That’s according to Solarcentury, the solar firm which installed the panels. It says they will earn 687kWp under the Government’s Feed-in Tariff.

Schools, libraries and leisure centres got the panels on rooftops as part of the council’s solar programme which will eventually cover more than 50 sites across Cornwall and reportedly save at least 675 tonnes of CO2 each year.

Julian German at the Cornwall Council said after watching recent changes to the FiT, this was an “astounding outcome”.

He said: “This is an astounding outcome in the face of the challenges and I would like to congratulate all those involved in pulling out all the stops to achieve this success. It demonstrates the commitment of Cornwall Council in putting Cornwall at the forefront of renewable energy.”