THE first solar panels in a £10million green energy scheme have been installed on a council block in the heart of Poole town centre.

Residents of the Whatleigh Close maisonettes now have 55 solar panels on the roof of their building, which already power the communal lighting in their block.

The next step for Poole Housing Partnership (PHP) – the organisation responsible for the management of all Borough of Poole council properties – will be to install solar panels on more than 1,000 council house roofs across the borough.

A PHP spokesman said: “Despite the roof of the Whatleigh Close block of maisonettes being probably one of the windiest places in Poole, the carefully selected Romag solar panels were safely installed by Poole-based firm Save Energy and are now successfully operating.”

The panels actually work like aircraft wings, pushing down when the wind hits them.

PHP is being paid for the energy generated by the panels – both for the electricity that is generated and used in the block, and for any power routed into the national grid.

Residents are able to monitor how much power is being generated and how much carbon is being saved.

“This is being funded by a loan of £10 million following Poole council approval back in April,” said the PHP spokesman.

“Once the capital has been repaid, PHP anticipates a healthy surplus which will be used to finance other renewable energy and water-saving projects that will benefit other council residents whose homes are not suitable for this scheme.”