An energy-saving European project has helped Derry City and Strabane District Council increase the usage of innovative energy across the district.

Through partaking in SECURE (Smarter Energy Communities in Northern and Arctic Regions), the local authority improved energy efficiency and increased its usage of renewable solutions across its buildings.

SECURE is a project to transfer and implement innovative energy solutions through transnational co-operation in the partner regions of Ireland, Northern Ireland, the Faroe Islands and Sweden with a budget of €1.8 million to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions across five partner regions.

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Pilot projects in SECURE have achieved savings of approximately £50k and reduced carbon emissions by 180 tonnes of CO2.

Leo Strawbridge, Energy Manager with Derry City and Strabane District Council said: "One of Council's key outputs was the identification of 40 energy reduction actions through SECURE. They included the installation of 12 kW of Solar PV linked to a 15kW intelligent battery storage system in the Irish Street Community Centre, the installation of a more efficient boiler in Derry's civic offices on Strand Road and the installation of LED lights in a number of Council buildings."

(CM/JG)