Schools lead the way in generating green energy

Thursday, 12 February 2009

Photon Energy have just finished the installation of wind turbines and solar panels in three schools in the south east.

Cranleigh School near Guildford in Surrey is building a new Academic Centre. The Centre will accommodate three major faculties: Science, Maths and Modern Languages. A planning requirement from Waverley Borough Council for the construction of the new building was that 10% of the electricity it will use must be generated by renewable energy. The school were advised that two 15 kW Proven Energy wind turbines would be the best way to meet this planning requirement.  The turbines have now been installed and commissioned by Photon Energy.

Graham Malyon, Site Manager for R Durtnell the main contractor at the site said: "The installation all went smoothly and efficiently and ran to the 5 week timescale for the installation; I have no hesitation at all in recommending Photon Energy to others wishing to install renewable energy systems".

Maidenbower Junior School in West Sussex now has a 6 kW wind turbine and a 6 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system, both generating electricity for the school. Funding for the project was provided by the Low Carbon Buildings Programme and by EDF Energy.

Maidenbower Junior is the second school in West Sussex to install a turbine which will provide power to the school by day and feed energy into the national grid at night. The school hopes to cut its carbon emissions by around seven tonnes a year using the 15 metre turbine and 48 new solar panels.

Maidenbower Junior School takes environmental issues seriously and this project is just the latest in a string of projects to help the environment. The school has an eco-code which encourages everyone to save water and energy, compost food waste, travel to school sustainably, care for plants and trees and reuse, repair and recycle whenever they can. The school has also been awarded a green flag for its successful participation in the Eco-Schools award programme.

Chris Murphy, head teacher at Maidenbower Junior School said: "We are delighted with our wind turbine and PV system.  The installation, by Photon Energy, was undertaken in a highly professional manner by a skilled and knowledgeable team.  All the materials and equipment arrived on site in good time and the installation work was completed efficiently, safely and tidily.  The children are really excited by the project and they are always looking at the digital display panel in the hall to see how much electricity is being generated and how much CO2 has been saved."

The third project is at Queens Hill Primary School near Norwich. This brand new school was built to cater for a large new housing development.  Part of the Local Education Authority budget was used to fund ‘green energy' on the school and a solar PV system and a solar water heating system were installed.  Photon Energy installed the PV system and connected it to school's computer system so that data from the PV can be used as a learning tool. The school opened to pupils in September 2008.

Photon Energy Director, Lucy Aitchison said: "I am very pleased to have been involved in these three school projects and that Photon Energy are able to play a part in educating the next generation about renewable energy".

Photon Energy

Photon Energy is a company specialising in the installation of renewable energy systems including small wind turbines, solar PV and…