Solar4Schools and the Co-Op provide free Green Energy for 50th Solar School
3/4/2008
Cherry Orchard Primary School in Greenwich, South London, has become the 50th school to receive free solar panels with Solar4Schools. As part of their National Green Energy for Schools Campaign, the Co-op will be donating the second half of the funding required for the solar installation. Other Schools can now apply for funds through finance company, Quartz.
Solar4Schools is a partnership between Solarcentury and energy provider Scottish and Southern Energy. The scheme is designed to help schools to apply for government funding for half the value of a solar energy installation. The scheme provides 4 kWp solar photovoltaic (pv) systems (or multiples of 4).
Without the funding available through Solar4Schools, these systems would cost around £20,000 each. £10,000 is provided through Solar4Schools as part of the Department of Trade and Industry's Low Carbon Building programme. In Cherry Orchard Primary School's case, the additional £10,000 needed will be provided by the Co-op's £1,000,000 fund, established to provide 100 schools throughout the UK with free with green energy.
The Solar pv technology creates no pollution and is silent in operation. The 4 kWp system installed at Cherry Orchard School will generate around 3,300 kWh a year, equivalent to the electrical consumption of an average three bedroom house in the UK. This will prevent nearly two tonnes of carbon dioxide from being emitted into the atmosphere annually. Since fifty solar pv installations have been funded by the Co-op and Solar4Schools, the scheme is currently preventing around 100 tonnes of CO2 being emitted each year.
While corporate funding for solar pv is only available for a limited number of schools, Solarcentury is collaborating with Quartz to provide an affordable financing option. Without any capital outlay, a 4kWp system with a 50% grant can be purchased over three years for just £977.66 a quarter, or £650.12 a quarter over five years. Financing from Quartz on Solarcentury installations is also availble to schools not eligible for Department of Trade and Industry grants.
Jeremy Leggett, CEO of Solarcentury comments: "The 50th project completed by Solar4Schools and the Co-op represents an important milestone in solar installations in this country. Solar installations in schools not only prevent CO2 emissions and generate clean energy, but also serve an important educational purpose. If children growing up see solar energy working and powering the school they attend every day, their attitudes to renewable energy and the environment will be shaped accordingly."
Schools are invited to apply for funding by filling in the Solar4Schools Online Application Form or by emailing their contact details to: solarschools@solarcentury.com.