Several harbour buildings in Whitehaven will benefit from solar power after Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners have installed a number of photovoltaic solar panels.

Panels have been installed on the roofs of three buildings; the Gordon Thomson House - formerly known as the Fish Hall, the Whitehaven Marina Facilities building and the Boatshed.

Funding for the installation was provided by Baywind Energy Co-operative, who is part of a body of renewable energy cooperatives based in Cumbria, called Energy4All.

Energy4All has been funding and operating renewable energy projects for more than 20 years. They aim to expand the number of renewable energy co-operatives in the UK to help contribute to a low carbon economy.

A spokesman for Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners said: "The new solar panels will reduce the energy costs of the buildings, but more importantly will reduce the carbon footprint of the harbour by 311 tonnes over their lifetime.

"WHC hopes that the project will spread a positive message about how seriously the organisation takes the threat of climate change and will inspire other businesses within the local community to follow suit.

"With the UK government's goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050, WHC would like to play their part by introducing renewable energy sources at the harbour."

Baywind has provided 367 solar panels for this project which will generate clean electricity all year round, even in poor weather. The power generated will be used to partly power the buildings they are mounted on.

The spokesman added "WHC believes this brings a new modern dimension to the harbour, relevant to the climate change conversations today, whilst minimising the impact to the historic Georgian harbour. The visual impact of the solar panels is minimal, and adds a subtle, modern look to the buildings and the harbour."