Oldham Council has teamed up with local firm TRAILAR to trial new solar panel technology aimed at reducing fuel costs and making our vehicle fleet more environmentally friendly.
Over the next year we are looking to fit solar panels to 14 of our vehicles – seven bin waggons and seven other trucks used for various duties, including the delivery of new bins to residents.
The panels sit on top of the vehicles and use solar power to charge the batteries while the vehicles are working.
It is estimated that by using solar power to top up regular engine power, each of these bin waggons will save up to 400 litres of fuel and over 1,000kg of carbon emissions each year.
There may also be other potential savings brought about by the additional benefits of improved battery care and a tracking system that allows performance to checked in real time.
This trial is the largest TRAILAR, who are based in Hamilton Street, is carrying out with any local authority in the country.
Councillor Abdul Jabbar, Deputy Leader of Oldham Council and Cabinet Member for Finance and Low Carbon, said: “We want Oldham to be carbon neutral by 2030 and are working hard to make it a greener, smarter and more enterprising place.
“That’s why over the last few years we’ve developed imaginative and economically sound ideas which benefit the borough and its people.
“We want to keep Oldham at the forefront of development and cutting-edge environmental technologies. This partnership with TRAILAR fits the bill and I’m glad we are able to work with and support a local firm.
“It’s great to see such a forward thinking and environmentally friendly company in Oldham and I hope they go from strength to strength.”
TRAILAR supports more than 100 commercial fleets in 15 countries around the world to reduce their environmental impact, supporting them to tackle emissions as well as providing valuable and communications insight.
Ian Hulme, Business Development Manager at TRAILAR, said: “Being an Oldham resident, I’m really pleased that TRAILAR has now started to support the decarbonisation of the local refuse truck fleet.
“I’m looking forward to working closely with Oldham Council to increase the fleets utilisation of our solar technology, in order to tackle air quality and fossil fuel emissions.”