Location: UK Scope: Trust-wide program across 13 schools, with 2 further arrays planned Sector: Education Key Components: Solar PV, battery storage, EV charging infrastructure, and ongoing maintenance
CHALLENGE
Rising energy costs were placing real pressure on already-stretched education budgets, while growing use of digital technology in classrooms was pushing electricity demand higher across the school estate. Renewable energy offered a way to cut costs, but finding the right technical solution and navigating available grant funding required specialist knowledge, time and resource that most schools don't have in-house.
KEY OUTCOMES
Major Carbon Reduction: Trust-wide carbon footprint more than halved. Scale of Delivery: More than 5,000 solar panels installed across the estate. Technically Complex Sites Solved: Solar successfully delivered on four sites with challenging Metrotile roofing. Maximised Self-Consumption: Monitoring and battery optimisation increase the share of on-site generated power actually used. Minimal Disruption: Installation scheduled around school terms and key dates throughout the multi-year rollout.
SOLUTION
Good Energy delivered a tailored, trust-wide renewable program spanning 28 installations across 13 schools: Bespoke Per-School Design Each school received a design matched to its roof type, energy demand, available space and future needs. Challenging Roof Solutions An in-roof mounting solution enabled solar deployment on four sites with difficult Metrotile roofing that would otherwise have blocked installation. Performance Monitoring & Storage SolarEdge technology paired with battery storage let the Trust monitor performance and maximise on-site energy use. Term-Time-Aware Scheduling Installation work scheduled around school holidays and key dates to minimise disruption to teaching. Funding Structure School Condition Allocation funding combined with government grants made the trust-wide investment financially viable.
