SOLAR farms could be built on council land to help give residents access to cheaper energy bills.

Worcestershire County Council is set to look at ways of helping to set up community energy companies in the county.

These are community-owned schemes that generate their own power through renewable sources.

A motion brought to full council by Green and independent councillors was backed by members of all parties at a meeting on Thursday, July 11.

It called for the council to explore the potential for community energy in Worcestershire and in particular the use of its own land to generate green energy.

Cllr Beverley Nielsen said the motion was timely as the new Labour government plans to provide “£600 million to local authorities and £400m for community energy organisations annually to turbo charge energy projects such as solar panels on council-owned land and buildings or community-owned and led initiatives”.

Cllr Nielsen said she has asked numerous times how many farms the county council owns.

“I’ve never actually had a clear answer but I understand it might be around 200,” she said.

“And I think the first steps we could take could be looking at whether any of our farms border industrial premises or high energy users because they would be potentially appropriate for solar/wind energy with a private wire, as opposed to linking into the grid.

“After that we could look more generally at schemes for the community.”

Cllr Malcolm Victory said Heart of England Community Energy is an example to follow.

Based near Stratford-upon-Avon, the non-profit owns one of the biggest community solar farms in the UK.

“Set up just seven years ago, they’ve already generated over £4m of surplus for the local community,” said Cllr Victory.

Councillors said solar was the most likely form of renewable energy to work well in Worcestershire.

Cllr Dan Boatright-Greene said the council should consider geothermal opportunities, while Cllr Craig Warhurst suggested wind turbines that work in low-wind areas.

It was also suggested that solar panels should be put on council-owned car parks, as Worcester City Council is doing at St Martin’s Gate.