UK schools are being offered a specially financed package that will enable them to install solar (PV) electricity technology with no high initial capital outlay.
Solar power company Solarcentury is working with GE Capital on a scheme under which GE will fund the cost of installing the solar technology, with the school typically paying a small initial deposit. The school will then simply pay back the equipment cost over 15 years using income generated from the recently introduced Solar Feed-in Tariff — and make immediate savings on their energy bills by using the solar electricity.
Unlike other school solar initiatives, where a utility or equipment provider owns the system, Solarcentury says its Solar4Schools scheme will mean schools or local authorities own their equipment once the lease is repaid, enabling local communities to benefit from the full Feed-in Tariff payments from year 15 to 25 of the scheme.
Schools will also get access to a range of lesson plans to help them educate pupils about the benefits of lowcarbon energy. Teaching kits will also be available and the amount of electricity generated and CO2 savings will be shown on a display in schools, with data available online.
Further information about the scheme is available at www.solar4schools.co.uk
