BBCSolar panels have been commissioned more than a decade late by the Highland Council as part of efforts to make Inverness more environmentally friendly, according to the Scottish Greens.
The £20,000 renewable energy project was installed on the roof of the 154-year-old Victorian Market in Inverness city center in March 2014.
The aim was to reduce the arcade's fuel costs and help Inverness be named a Carbon Smart City this year.
The Scottish Greens said the system had only now become operational, but Highland Council said they had been operating continuously since it was introduced.
Once installed, the solar panels were expected to deliver an annual energy cost saving of £500 to £1,000 for the local authority market.
The program was also expected to raise £1,200 each year for the Inverness Common Good Fund – a pot of money used to support community projects.
Scottish Greens MP Ariane Burgess said the work of Greens councilors had led to the panels finally getting involved.
Councilor Chris Ballance said: “It is incredible that for 10 years no one in successive governments asked the right questions or called for solutions or even noticed that the panels were not engaged.”
But Highland Council said electricity generation began in the 2013/14 financial year.
It said the system had recorded production in every calendar year since then.
The Victorian Market first opened in 1870.
Stallholders included butchers, grocers, jewelers and a fish market.
In 1889, the gas-lit property was destroyed by fire. All that remained was a stone-built entrance.
A dog that stayed in the house overnight to guard the butcher shop died in the fire.
Within a few years the market was rebuilt and reopened.
A recent redevelopment of the site was completed in 2022. It is a popular attraction for residents and visitors to the Highlands.
Net zero targets
Highland Council has been trying to meet its net zero targets, including reducing energy consumption across its properties and vehicle fleet.
Net zero means no longer increasing the total amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Last year a council report warned of “limited progress” to contribute in some areas to achieving its goals.
There are a number of other renewable and low-carbon projects.
This includes Hydro Nesswhich generates electricity from the River Ness near Inverness using an Archimedes screw – a means of moving water from a low level to a higher level, using a design attributed by some experts to the ancient Greek scientist Archimedes.
The local authority is building an air source heat pump system to heat Inverness Castle and neighboring properties.
The company has also tested the use of electric cargo bikes for some of its employees.