East Cambridgeshire District Council is funding a £50,000 project to add solar panels to the roof of E-Space North in Littleport, helping save up to 20 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.

It is anticipated the panels could provide around 60 per cent of the power needs for the business hub, which supports start-ups, small, growing and established businesses.

Any extra electricity generated by the solar panels can also be returned to the grid, helping to offset energy costs.

The panels are expected to pay for themselves in around seven years time and help the Council cut its carbon footprint by around two per cent.

Cllr Anna Bailey, Leader of East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “Installing solar panels on E-Space North is just one of a basket of measures we are exploring at the Council to help us reduce our carbon footprint to zero by 2040. If this is successful, it is something we will look to extend to other buildings owned by East Cambridgeshire District Council, including E-Space South in Ely.”