BPVA Launch "˜Powering Knowledge' "“ Solar PV For School Rooftops
A staggering £500 million is spent by schools in the UK to pay for energy bills each year
This has lead the British Photovoltaic Association (BPVA) and Rated Solar Installer to teamed up to launch a campaign called "Powering Knowledge" to help install solar PV on school rooftops across the UK.
Every school has the potential to generate its own renewable energy, and with the considerable amount of space available, solar PV is amongst the most suitable choices. Working closely with the Department for Energy and Climate Change, the Department for Education, and Friends of the Earth, Powering Knowledge aims to help some of the 22,000 schools across the UK to reduce or eliminate their electricity bills.
With a range of innovative financial solutions including Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), crowd funded finance (Parental Bond), community share scheme and leases that enable installations to take place with no upfront cost to the school or local authority eliminating the need to borrow money, Powering Knowledge helps schools install a solar rooftop from an accredited and approved installer and to start saving money immediately.
Amber Rudd MP, Minister for Energy & Climate Change commented:
"Solar can not only help schools to take control of their energy bills but is also a wonderful way of engaging pupils, teachers and parents around helping the environment too.
"Earlier this year, my Department announced a new initiative to encourage England and Wales' 22,000 schools to fit solar panels and cut a cumulative energy spend of around £500 million.
"The BPVA's Powering Knowledge campaign will ensure even more schools know about the benefits of installing solar and I welcome today's announcement."
Reza Shaybani, Chairman of the BPVA commented:
"We are delighted to be in the forefront of yet another important activity in our industry helping schools to reduce their energy bills. We are offering schools across the UK the opportunity to install and benefit from FREE solar PV systems, which will help schools to reduce energy bills and enable them spend more money on education as well as reducing carbon emissions making our schools "Greener".
The benefits are tremendous for each school individually, as everyone wins by Powering Knowledge; Students, schools, local residents, and even local and central government that no longer have to face ever increasing electricity prices. The great thing about this programme, is that it is simple to use, as well as being totally suitable for all types of schools from Local Authority (LEA), to academy status and independent schools."