Pupils at Bartholomew School in Eynsham, Oxfordshire, are learning about the creation of energy and the role renewables can play in reducing carbon pollution thanks to a major solar installation on the school’s sports hall roof.
The mixed comprehensive school decided to take its carbon reduction commitments even further after achieving a silver Eco Schools Award and began exploring options for installing renewable technologies on-campus. After considering a few proposals the school settled on installing solar PV as it provided the maximum benefit.
Oxford-based Southern Solar was approached by the school to assess the solar potential of the campus for solar generation. The solar installer suggested fitting a 37kWp array to the roof of the sports hall. The solar panels cover an area of 230 square metres and are estimated to generate 28,065kWh of renewable electricity every year.
Not only will the school benefit from cheaper bills and the associated feed-in tariff payments, but the solar array will also be used a key teaching aid in science and geography lessons as well as in PSHCE programmes, which teach community responsibility. Andrew Hamilton, the school’s Headteacher explained: “Renewable energy is an important part of how we educate the pupils to become global citizens.”
Commenting on the solar installation, Nark Harrison, Site Development Officer, said: “They [the pupils] want to know what’s happening with energy use and they are much more aware of the issues that come with it. It’s great for them to see the impact renewable energy can have in practice, rather than it just been talked about in lessons, they can see it making a real difference to their school.”