A substantial community energy investment from two organisations have jointly funded eight North Somerset schools to install rooftop solar.
Burnham and Weston Energy CIC and Solar for Schools have between them invested nearly £400,000 to install solar panel systems across eight primary schools run by the Extend Learning Academies Network (ELAN) in North Somerset.
The solar panels are expected to generate 385,000kWh per year and save the schools around £15,000 per year. The amount of energy generated will be the equivalent to powering around 130 homes. Burnham and Weston Energy will use any surplus income from the solar panels to help fund solar on further schools and community buildings in the area through an innovative solar funding model.
Burnham and Weston Energy has invested nearly £300,000 of funds which have been generated by the non-profit’s 36,000 panel community solar farm which has been up and running since 2016. The solar farm uses its excess revenue to fund community projects in the area.
Solar for Schools organised a further £100,000 for the project in grant funding from National Grid Electricity Distribution. Solar for Schools also managed the installation process and will provide ongoing maintenance services, along with a cross-curricular education programme which will run for the lifetime of the project. “We say to schools they can learn from your buildings, not just in them” said Solar for Schools’ director, Ann Flaherty.
“Starting with their own school rooftops, these projects are about empowering students with skills and knowledge, as we work towards a net-zero future, using real experience and live data from their own solar panels. It’s a very powerful learning tool.”
Burnham and Weston Energy CIC will own the solar panels and be responsible for covering service and maintenance costs. The schools will be supplied with solar electricity at a 35% discount to their normal energy price.
The schools having the solar installed are: Banwell Primary, Bournville Primary School, Locking Primary, Mead Vale Primary, Mendip Green Primary, Milton Park Primary, Oldmixon Primary School and Windwhistle Primary.
Earlier this year Burnham and Weston Energy provided £22,000 of funding via a ‘Solar Soft Loan’ to Winscombe Community Centre to help fund a 33kW solar PV system and a heat pump. The community solar company has over £1million of surplus income to deploy and is keen to help other schools and community buildings with funding for solar PV.
Jake Burnyeat of Burnham and Weston Energy said: “It’s fantastic to see the surplus income from our big community solar farm being used to fund solar PV on roofs in the local area. This is the first major investment in roof top solar for Burnham and Weston Energy and we hope to help more schools and community buildings do the same.
“By reinvesting surplus income from the big solar farm into further solar projects, we’re using a model where everyone benefits and the money will keep circulating in the local economy.”
Laura Latham, ELAN Communications Lead said: “This investment is a fantastic opportunity for our schools, not only reducing energy costs but also demonstrating a real commitment to sustainability for our pupils and communities.”
Clive Farmer, ELAN Estates Lead said: “The newly installed solar panel array at Bournville Primary School marks the exciting beginning of our trust’s solar journey, a project that has been two years in the planning. This milestone kicks off an ambitious summer initiative to complete solar installations across eight of our school roofs for a more sustainable future.”
This is about so much more than solar panels. It’s about investing in the futures of our children and the communities they grow up in. By cutting our energy costs, we are freeing up vital funds which can be reinvested into even more sustainability projects and initiatives across our schools, helping us to build greener, healthier places in which children can learn and grow. Importantly, our pupils can see what positive action on climate looks like and inspires them to work towards a more sustainable future too. We are incredibly proud to be part of something that brings lasting environmental and educational benefits to our whole community.”