Gloucestershire school first to receive National Grid funding for solar panel installation

As part of their pledge to drive sustainability and promote net zero in local communities, National Grid Electricity Distribution has provided funding to allow a school in Gloucestershire to install solar panels.

Rednock School in Dursley, Gloucestershire, has benefitted from National Grid’s solar PV fund which was established in its RIIO-ED2 distribution Business Plan (Revenue = Incentives + Innovation + Outputs. Electricity Distribution 2).

National Grid provided £10,000 towards the installation of the 19kW solar panel system, with the school also choosing to contribute, making for a larger installation. NGED also supplied £2,000 towards maintenance. 

The Gloucestershire scheme is part of the company’s Business Plan commitment to ‘build decarbonised communities and local energy schemes by providing £540,000 of shareholder-funded support each year to install solar PV on schools in areas of high economic deprivation’.

The project was carried out in partnership with key local stakeholders, including school staff and governors, as well as a local ecologist who is monitoring biodiversity net gain and carbon levels. This will help both the school and the local community to become more sustainable.

Ellie Patey, Social Obligations Officer at National Grid said: ‘This is a landmark project for National Grid as we increase our support for local community projects by helping them to decarbonise. At National Grid, we’re committed to delivering locally-tailored solutions which is why the unique insight of local stakeholders, who have a close connection to the community, is so invaluable. This project has helped to shape the model that will be scaled up across our network over the next five years as we deliver on our RIIO-ED2 commitments.

‘We hope the project will support Rednock School to become more sustainable, as well as being a seed point for wider community sustainability.’

Alongside the solar panels, National Grid is also delivering STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) outreach and education activities at the school to promote net zero, the benefits of renewable energy and careers in STEM.

Headteacher David Alexander said: ‘Rednock School is pleased to play a part as a pilot project in National Grid’s support for net zero communities. Not only will we benefit from reduced energy bills and a more sustainable school environment, but students are also gaining the skills and understanding needed for 21st century living. As an important part of the local community, the school will be helping to meet net zero challenges.’

Photo:  Neil Phillips Photo and Film Ltd