A TOTAL of 48 solar panels could be installed on the roof of a church in Taunton town centre.

Officials at Temple Methodist Church believe the scheme could knock £2,000 off the annual electricity bill at the premises in Upper High Street.

In a planning application lodged with Somerset West and Taunton Council, proposals to raise the roof by 10cm as part of the initiative have been revealed.

That would enable thermal insulation to be packed under the roof.

The proposal comes as part of the roof, which is in "very poor condition", needs to have the slate covering renewed.

A statement with the application says: "This presents an opportunity to address energy costs, sustainability, and the carbon footprint of the building.

"The church committee have determined that they should seek to improve thermal insulation and generate their own electricity - at least a significant part of the requirement."

It adds: "It is proposed 48 'black' modular panels in three rows are frame mounted above the slate roof covering.

"Current energy costs are approximately £8,000 per annum, divided roughly equally between gas and electricity.

"The energy generated will offset roughly 50 per cent of electrical energy costs (£2,000 a year).

"This in itself is significant. The reduction in carbon is more significant."

It is argued in the application that the panels will have a negligible impact on the roofscape as the roof is not visible from Upper High Street, while views from nearby Vivary Park are blocked by trees.

The statement adds: "The roof over of the church is large and a significant loss of heat energy and excessive carbon production.

"The church is heated throughout the week to a background level and the basement to a comfort level.

"The level of heating partly serves to suppress damp, decay and mould, preserving the building fabric and reducing the harmful and costly effects of large hot to cold heating swings."

Installing wood fibre insulation into the section of the roof - along with further insulation to the rest of the roof in due course - would reduce heat loss by around a fifth.

The application says: "The recovering presents a low-cost opportunity to improve the heat loss, as well as integration of solar panels."