Warwick District Council has equipped 20 refuse and recycling vehicles with solar mats, which are expected to reduce carbon emissions by approximately 1.3 tonnes per vehicle annually.

The initiative is part of the Council's 'Low Cost, Low Carbon' strategic priority, which aims to cut energy use and drive sustainability in the District.

Installed by TRAILAR, they work by powering the electrical components in the vehicle, such as the air conditioning and radio, reducing the demand on the alternator and therefore reducing the diesel consumption by approximately 515 litres per vehicle, per year.

Councillor Will Roberts, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood, said: "I'm delighted to see the installation of these solar mats on our refuse and recycling vehicles, which are already demonstrating their value. 

"I'm pleased that Biffa and TRAILAR were able to complete the installation in time for the summer months and with no disruption to collections. 

"The Council is committed to further reducing the carbon emissions from our waste collection fleet. 

"These solar mats will provide a useful solution while we see out the lifespan of the existing fleet of diesel vehicles, after which time we will look to replace the diesel vehicles with low or zero-emission alternatives." 

The initiative is part of the Council's 'Low Cost, Low Carbon' strategic priority (images supplied)

Funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the project is already showing promising results. 

TRAILAR's telematics system recorded a saving of 162kg of carbon emissions in a single day during a sunny spell in late April,highlighting the tangible benefits of solar energy, especially during brighter months.

Adam Buckley Mayes, CTO of TRAILAR added: "We're thrilled to be working with Warwick District Council to support the decarbonisation of their refuse and recycling fleet.

"We've installed our ultra-thin solar panels to the roof space of 20 vehicles and the fitted technology will actively reduce the vehicle's emissions by reducing fuel consumption, with solar energy powering all onboard electrical equipment. 

"The early data captured via the dedicated TRAILAR telematics are impressive and allow Warwick District Council to see and report how much fuel and CO2 each vehicle is saving each day.

"In addition, there will also be other savings brought about by the benefits of improved battery care and a vehicle tracking system that allows performance to be checked in real time through the systems telematics platform. 

"We look forward to building on our relationship with Warwick District Council and Biffa to increase the fleets utilisation of TRAILAR solar technology". 

Terry Moosab (Biffa), Adam Buckley-Mayes (TRAILAR), with officers from Warwick District Council and Cllr Will Roberts, Portfolio Holder

for Neighbourhood (images supplied)

This initiative underscores the Council's commitment to practical, cost-effective solutions in the fight against climate change.

The project, funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, has already seen impressive statistics on the warm, sunny days we've been enjoying this Spring, with TRAILAR's telematics system showing 162kg of carbon emissions saved in just one day in late April. 

Biffa's Head of Fleet Development, Darren Judd, added: "The installation of solar mats is one of a number of initiatives to understand how various technologies fitted to our fleet can help us realise potential carbon savings in real-world conditions. 

"It's fantastic to partner with organisations like Warwick District Council who share our sustainability vision and values by experimenting with solutions that may help us decarbonise our UK operations.

"We will continue to work with our local authority partners and business customers to provide an even more efficient and lower-carbon collection service that will help reduce their Scope 3 emissions and contribute to our own net zero journey."