Three Ways School in Bath is the latest school to benefit from rooftop solar installation from Bath & West Community Energy (BWCE), with 323 solar panels being installed over the October half-term. The system will meet nearly a third of the school’s electricity needs, enabling it to reduce its fuel bill and cut carbon emissions by 26 tonnes per year.
BWCE is a non-profit community owned business set up to provide community benefit. During 2022 it installed solar projects at six local secondary schools, all on the following basis:
- The system is installed for free, so there is no upfront cost for the school.
- BWCE manage the system, thereby taking the hassle away from the school.
- They sell the electricity generated to the schools at a 10-30% discount.
In addition, surplus income goes into the BWCE Fund (set up as an independent charity) which provides grants for community projects reducing carbon emissions and addressing fuel poverty. So far 82 grants have been given out to local organisations including Bath City Farm, The Carers Centre, First Steps Nursery, Bath Share & Repair and Julian House.
Amelia Hartley, Business Manager at Three Ways School, said, “The mission of our school is to prepare children for the future – we want to make sure as a school we are playing our part on the impact of climate change to ensure a cleaner, greener future for everyone by installing a more sustainable form of energy. We are grateful to BWCE for providing us with a low hassle way of reducing our carbon emissions and our fuel bills with no capital outlay to the school”
Issac Long, Pupil Representative, added, “I was excited to be part of the Solar Panel Project and work with both the school and BWCE. I was asked for my views on the project and was kept informed on the progress. It is lovely to think that we are saving a large fraction of the cost of the electricity and replacing it with green energy.”
With a number of other school solar projects in the pipeline, BWCE needs more local people to become members and invest, to help raise £1 million by April 2023.
- Minimum investment £100.
- This money remains yours, but it will be put to good use in developing more community owned renewable energy projects.
- Members get a vote in the organisation and a target annual interest rate of 5% (subject to project performance).
- Please note that, as with all investments, risk is involved.
For more details and to apply go to www.bwce.coop/invest where you can also watch a short video and book on an online information session.