Solar Panels Cut Maidstone Council's Energy Bills Almost in Half Over Summer

Solar panels installed at The Depot, Maidstone Borough Council's operational base for parks, waste and environmental services, cut the site's electricity costs by almost half over the summer - a saving of £3,526 compared with the same three months in 2025. Bills fell from £7,144 across June, July and August last year to £3,618 this year: down 39% in June, 58% in July and 49% in August.

It's a modest sum against the council's overall budget, but the numbers behind it are the more telling part: the council's electricity use has fallen 15% over the past year, while the share of its own electricity it generates on-site has roughly doubled, from around 3% to approximately 7%. With a payback period under nine years and the panels expected to keep delivering savings well beyond that, The Depot is being used as the proof of concept for a wider rollout - similar projects are now planned at Lockmeadow Entertainment Centre, Mote Park and Maidstone Leisure Centre, alongside separate energy efficiency works at the council's Maidstone House and The Link offices.

Councillor Rachel Rodwell, the council's Cabinet Member for Nature and Climate Transition, said: “We have committed to becoming net zero in our operations and these figures show the value of investing in renewable energy by making savings for our services and for residents. Saving money and reducing emissions go hand in hand. We're already seeing the benefits at the Depot, and I'd encourage anyone interested in solar panels or other energy-saving measures to explore what support is available.”

For residents looking to do the same at home, the council points to Switch Together, a group-buying scheme run with iChoosr and other Kent authorities that aims to get households and small businesses competitively priced solar panels and battery storage through approved installers. Source: Maidstone Borough Council