Portway Goes Solar!

A solar PV system has been fitted to the School, bringing educational opportunities and renewable energy to the school, to offset against traditional fossil-fuel supplies.

We believe we are the first school in the area to fit solar panels to the school.

 The system was supplied free to the school through the Eco-Schools solar programme: Free Power for Schools, which is managed by Winch Energy.  The 14.10kWp PV system is expected to generate 12.9MWh electricity and save the school around 7 tonnes of carbon every year.

Keep Britain Tidy’s Eco-Schools programme manager Andrew Suter said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for Portway to reap the benefits of solar power, to look at energy supply and reduce their energy bills and their carbon footprint at the same time.”

Nicholas Wrigley, Executive Chairman of Winch Energy, which manages Free Power for Schools said: “This project is a true partnership between the private and public sector bringing long-term benefits to schools.  We have worked with schools, local education, energy and planning teams at county and district councils as well as many dioceses to make it happen. With so many parties involved and the tight timeframes for installation, we are delighted that it has come to fruition.”

The programme allows schools to have solar panels installed, maintained and decommissioned at no cost to either the school or the local authority. Schools benefit from the renewable energy it generates and gain a teaching and learning opportunity about renewable energy for future generations.

With traditional energy prices set to rise, the new deal will help buffer schools from escalating fuel bills.

Headteacher Tim Deery, said:

"For many years Portway Junior has considered itself as a 'Green School'.  We are working towards being a sustainable school and having the solar panels as part of the Eco-Schools solar: Free Power for Schools programme is another step in the right direction. Without this programme we would not have been able to afford the capital costs of the panels and we have gained a teaching and learning opportunity, a chance to reduce our school's carbon emissions and helped save some costs."