Blakedown school unveils solar panels

Staff and pupils at Blakedown CE Primary School officially unveiled their new rooftop solar panels on Monday.

The 24 photovoltaic panels should generate about 3,300 kWh of electricity each year – enough to power a school computer for 33,000 hours or to make 180,000 cups of tea – saving about two tonnes of carbon dioxide.

Pupils can keep track of how much renewable energy the panels are generating and the amount of carbon dioxide they have saved to date by checking a monitor in the school building.

Ella Hanks, 10, a year five pupil, said: “The solar panels are great. They help us be green and get an eco award and it’s great to know we are doing our bit.”

Helen Bond, headteacher, added: “We are proud to be among the schools leading the way on renewable energy through this scheme.

“We are already working hard to reduce the school’s carbon footprint and switching on these rooftop solar panels will instantly boost our efforts, while sending out a strong message about our commitment to helping the environment.”

The panels are half-funded by Co-operative’s £2 million Green Energy for Schools scheme, with match-funding from the Government’s Low Carbon Building Programme (LCBP).

The 109-pupil school is one of 80 across the UK chosen to receive funding for renewable energy technology as part of the second phase of the scheme.

Michael Fairclough, Co-operative’s head of community and campaigns, said: “As a community business with a long track record in using renewable energy to power our own buildings, it makes sense to bring our experience and funding to help a local school in this way.

”By switching on these solar panels, Blakedown Primary School is teaching the next generation about climate change, while setting an excellent example to other schools, businesses and homes in Kidderminster.

“We hope this will inspire wider efforts to reduce the whole community’s carbon footprint.”