AN array of solar panels on top of the Broadway car park are among the proposals to boost the amount of green energy produced in Bradford.

Other plans could see more EV charging facilities on terraced streets and a hydrogen fuel production centre at Bowling Back Lane.

Bradford councillors were given an update on various carbon reduction and environmental schemes at a meeting this week, and heard electric vehicle charging points and solar panels on public buildings would be an increasingly common site in the coming years.

Members of the Regeneration and Environment Scrutiny Committee discussed the various climate and environment schemes in the pipeline when they met on Tuesday evening.

One of the biggest green energy schemes planned is a possible hydrogen power plant at the former gas works at Bowling Back Lane.

The facility could be used to provide fuel for hydrogen-powered vehicles, and organisations such as First Bus have shown an interest in using the facility.

The proposal is being developed by a partnership that includes Northern Gas Networks.

Andrew Whittles, programme manager for Bradford’s air quality plan, said: “It will cost around £30m. NGN has applied for a national grant of around £6.8m to develop this, but will probably go ahead even if this funding doesn’t come through.”

He told members one of the big benefits of the facility would be a planned hydrogen skills training centre – where the next generation of power engineers can learn their trade.

“Aggressively” rolling out more electric vehicle charging points would allow the District to wean itself off fossil fuels – the committee was told.

Mr Whittles said: “The rollout of EV charging points in Bradford has made great strides in recent years. We’re the first council in the UK to require all new build homes to include charging points, that has led to up to 8,000 new charging points in developments.

“We currently have 82 charging points in car parks, and were recently awarded funding for a further 38.

“We’re aggressively looking at how we can increase the number of charging points. A key area for this is how we can have them on terraced streets. We will look at gully charging.”

Gully charging involves creating a channel on terraced streets where charging wires can be installed – reducing the trip hazard of loose cables.

He told members the Council was looking at how sites across the district could be used for green energy production.

Plans are underway for a £5m solar farm in the Odsal area, and Mr Whittles told members that solar panels may also be installed on a large vacant site to the rear of the Bowling Back Lane recycling centre.

He added: “We’re in discussions about putting a canopy on top of the Broadway car park and putting solar panels on top.

“All this will improve fuel security going forward.”