Research reveals significant solar opportunity for schools

Schools and hospitals should leverage funding to install solar carports, a renewable expert has said, after research revealed a significant power generation opportunity from car parks. Damian Barker, Managing Director of  RenEnergy, has said institutions could regain control of their finances and energy supply if they elect to use the government’s new £180 million funding to install this method of solar energy generation.  

RenEnergy has commissioned ongoing research to identify how many parking spaces could be suitable for installation. So far, more than 151,000 suitable parking spaces have been identified across schools, colleges, universities, hospitals and medical facilities in England and Scotland, which could produce over 350GWh of power – enough to cover the average annual consumption of over 97,000 UK homes. 

With the UK having 32,149 schools and 1,148 hospitals, the research has only scratched the surface of the amount of green power that could be produced. If schools used the first major investment from the government’s state-owned power provider to invest in solar carports, they could use the now available energy funds to finance a variety of much needed assets. 

With the teaching crisis putting substantial pressure on senior leadership to retain talent while balancing costs, reducing energy bills could allow schools to attract new educational providers and vital equipment and resources. Schools do not need to apply for planning permission due to the installation being covered by permitted development. Once built, management will have to contact the District Network Operator (DNO) to secure grid capacity. 

Damian said: “The government has made its plans clear to help reduce the carbon footprint of schools and hospitals by investing in green power solutions. Carports could have a significant role in the rollout of this £180 million funding, helping institutions regain control of their finances and invest in the future.” 

www.renenergy.co.uk/carports