There is a total of £17.5 million in Government grants to cover 50% of solar photovoltaic systems, together with £12m in grants to cover 30% cost of wind projects - all vital renewable energy sources, which will reduce energy costs and cut carbon emissions.
With many head teachers, college principals and university vice chancellors looking to pursue eco-friendly projects that will deliver sustainable energy for their buildings - from bio fuel for the school minibus to solar panels and wind turbines - what they do next and how they fund it presents the next hurdle.
Said Mark Dickinson, Planet Solar managing director: "The grants are a fantastic opportunity for public sector organisations to embrace the power of renewable energy - for a large or small scale project. However, initial findings show that not everyone is aware of the pot of the money the Government has set aside to help with this. Furthermore, these technologies represent a fantastic educational element by engaging pupils in the monitoring of energy produced and more importantly the C02 savings.
"We provide a one stop approach for public sector organisations, guiding them through the process. From a comprehensive survey of what's required, to a full costing and forecast of the energy savings to be made, we do everything down to providing an annual maintenance and system check service. What's more, we will collate the majority of the application, so the head teacher or principal simply needs to review and sign - a process that takes no more than 15 minutes."
Planet Solar is working for a wide range of schools, further education and higher education establishments across the country. Based at the Lancaster Environment Centre - a pioneering energy research facility in the UK, the company is working on projects totalling over £1m in the Educational sector alone.
It is currently working with University of Central Lancashire on a 100kWp project, equating to around 600 Solar Photovoltaic (PV) panels, installed across the building portfolio in a three-phase project.
Phase one of the project will see 180 roof mounted panels installed at a cost of £199,000, which has been part-funded by a Government grant which gives 50 per cent of costs toward renewable energy projects. The panels will be installed using a unique roof mounting system - the first of its kind in the UK, with work commencing in January 2008.
