A Toyota factory has unveiled its 17,000 solar panelled plant on the day it was revealed that usage of the power has risen more than 50 per cent in three months.

The panels at Toyota’s Derbyshire were switched on to harness the power of the sun through a field of panels next to its car production plant. The space they cover – 90,000 square metres – is the equivalent of four football pitches.

When working at full capacity it is hoped they will generate enough electricity to build around 7,000 cars and account for nearly four per cent of the total solar powered output created in the three months to June.

Tony Walker, Toyota’s UK deputy managing director, said: ‘We wanted to improve our use of renewable sources of energy – wind power, solar power and biomass.

‘Solar power was the most practical solution for us and it minimises disturbance for our neighbours. We hope to generate 4,600,000 kWh of electricity which is about five per cent of our total electrical energy usage.’

The project has been funded by British Gas for £10million and they signed a lease on the land for the next 25 years. The rise in solar panel use has been attributed to a last-minute rush by developers to finish installing them before lower government support tarriffs kick in next month.

Earlier this month two of Britain’s largest solar plants were connected to the power grid in Cornwall.

Conor McGuigan, head of planning at Lightsource Renewable Energy, said: ‘While it’s been disappointing the government has decided not to support the large-scale solar sector going forward, the solar farms developed this summer will play a critical role in the supply of green energy in the UK.

SOURCE via Dailymail