Press Release: Marchwood Power supports local schools to install solar panels

Children from Orchard Junior

Children from Orchard Junior welcomed Marchwood Power's Richard Holman and the station's School Liaison Officer, Jane Holman, to their school

Three New Forest schools have completed the installation of new photo-voltaic panels. The schools are Applemore College, Orchard Junior in Dibden Purlieu and Hounsdown School in Totton. The new solar panels will save each school approximately £500 per year on their energy bills as well as well as produce clean, green, renewable energy.

The Solar4Schools scheme is an innovative government project, encouraging schools to install solar panels to save money and contribute to the education curriculum. The Government funded 50% of the cost, with Marchwood Power match funding the other 50%. As well as the solar panels, each school has installed a special display board showing the electricity being generated and received an “energy resource pack” that will be used in lessons, as part of the national curriculum

Three other schools in the local area expect to have their solar panels installed within the next 6-8 weeks, as part of the Solar4Schools scheme.

Richard Holman, General Manager for Marchwood Power said “I am delighted that so many schools are taking advantage of Solar4Schools. The scheme helps the schools in two ways: cutting their energy bills and educating students about energy demand, the different sources of power and the environment.”