The installation of solar panels at Egglescliffe School, Eaglescliffe, near Stockton-On-Tees has been completed in rather a timely manner as the school are in the throes of celebrating their 50th anniversary. The installation is made up of 80 solar panels.
Solar Panel
(image credit: stantontcady)
Caroline Flint MP, who is also the shadow Energy Secretary, was welcomed at the school to switch on the solar panel system. She actually compared the solar panel installation with the industrial revolution. She did comment that she would love to see Teesside at the forefront of renewable energy both here in the United Kingdom and, indeed, throughout the world.
The solar panel installation has cost £40,000 but it is estimated that it will reduce the energy consumption at the school by as much as 10% plus the production of carbon dioxide will drop by around 19,000 kg. The school are to be complimented as a sustainability group came up with the idea as they had been looking at how they could lower the carbon footprint at Egglescliife School.
Alan Richardson, who is the head of the school’s science department, pointed out that the sustainability group had looked at a number of other options to reduce the school’s energy consumption and carbon footprint but they found that quite a few of them would prove too hard to arrange within the school.
However, solar panels were felt to be within their capabilities but the school could not afford to pay for all the cost of the solar panel installation. As far back as 2011 the school approached EDF Energy with regard to funding the scheme and last summer the school received correspondence from EDF Energy notifying them that they had been awarded £20, 873 towards the cost of the installation as a result of the EDF Energy Green Fund Award. That left a similar amount to find which came from the school governors, Sabic and Tata Global Beverages.
Another benefit to the school is that the renewable energy conception of solar panels will be used to help teach geography and science. Furthermore, many pupils are to help in ensuring that lights are turned off when not needed and paper is recycled.
