Media report from Solar Power Portal: Solar programme aims to install 5MW across 170 schools

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The newly-formed 'Power Your Future' programme is aiming to install 5MW of solar on school roofs across the UK.

The programme, set up by Engynious and Winch Energy, is capable of installing solar on up to170 schools.

"For the Engynious Group, this is the largest programme and its first in the UK market to date. Our tailored solutions provide distributed energy production combined with on-site consumption, a major pillar for the world's future energy supply", commented Gregor Loukidis, director of Engynious Clean Power.

"Schools benefit from having an off-grid energy supply and lower cost energy than traditional energy supplies that are subject to energy price rises. By ring-fencing part of their electricity costs, schools can better manage their budgets and students gain from the teaching and learning opportunities that having solar PV on their roofs affords," added Nick Wrigley, chairman of Winch Energy.

The solar arrays will vary in size between 20-50kWp depending on site constraints. The first installation to be successfully completed under the programme was a 50kWp installation at West Park School in July 2013.  

The school's bursar Rob Mousley commented: "We are delighted with our solar PV system. As an outstanding school, we look to make improvements wherever possible. The solar PV will enable us to reduce some of our costs and our carbon emissions and the panels indicate our continuing commitment to address global issues at local levels. The solar panels are the latest measure in a programme that has seen electricity consumption in the school fall by 18% since 2007 despite heavy investment in electricity dependent ICT resources. We aim to give all our pupils, knowledge and a greater understanding of the world around them so they have the skills they will need when they leave school to be successful."

Written by Peter Bennett