The 50kW array at Golden Grove primary school. Image: Egni Co-op.
Egni Co-op has completed a project to place solar panels on six schools roofs in Pembrokeshire, Wales.
It will help to cut energy costs, help the environment and lead the green recovery from the COVID-19 crisis according to the community energy group.
As part of Pembrokeshire County Council joining Egni Co-op, solar PV has been installed at Golden Grove Primary (50kW), Lamphey Primary (10kW), Prendergast Primary (30kW), Bro Ingli Primary (25kW), Ysgol y Frenni (30kW) and Saundersfoot Primary (25kW).
Over the next 20 years, Egni Co-op will maintain and support the systems to Council specification.
Steve Keating, the Council’s sustainable development and energy manager, said they were delighted with the “care and quality of these installs” by both Egni Co-op and ICE Solar, who installed them.
“The solar panels were fitted at a very challenging time with the impact of COVID-19 and were safely completed before schools returned.
“Despite the restrictions now in place due to COVID-19, it’s vital we continue to install renewable energy to tackle climate change and to complement Welsh government’s target for more renewable electricity capacity in Wales to be locally owned.”
The solar panels were installed at no cost to the Council or the schools, and will have a total estimated generation equivalent to 45 homes.
Egni Co-op development officer, Alex Ferraro, said: “These sites will together prevent about 45 tonnes of annual CO2 emissions and contribute towards Pembrokeshire’s climate change targets. We are also very grateful to the Welsh Government Energy Service for their support during this rollout of solar.”
“The panels were funded by our co-op members so were completely free to the schools. We charge for the electricity provided by the PV systems at a 20% discount compared to the main electricity supplier.
“We’re also looking forward to working with the schools on education aspects and to see if they can make further energy saving improvements.
“School staff were fantastic throughout and really helped us and our installers, ICE Solar, complete the solar panels safely and on time.”
These most recent installations follow almost 190kW of rooftop solar being installed across six sites in Neath Port Talbot in July.