In Bedford public library a display describes the rooftop solar-panel installation that helps out with the building's electricity needs. It says the peak output on a sunny day would be about 333 watts. A digital screen shows that on this day of hazy sunshine, the output is fluctuating around 167 watts. The caption says you can view the panels if you go up to the third floor. I go up. There it is: a rectangle of about 5 square metres, shiny, patterned, something that wouldn't be out of place in Tate Modern.
Think of it: if the Council could afford to invest in two more of these, then on very sunny days the staff would have enough solar power to boil a kettle.
