Case study · Education · St Albans
50kW for a school, fully Salix-funded.
A St Albans secondary school with a flat-roof main block, a sustainability-minded SLT, and an exposed RIBA dashboard in the foyer. The Year 9 STEM cohort now reads it before the bursar does.
50kW
System Size
45%
Energy Offset
£12k
Annual Savings
100%
Salix Funded
The Challenge
A 1,200-pupil secondary school in St Albans faced significant budget pressures from rising energy costs, with annual electricity bills exceeding £28,000. The school wanted to:
- Reduce operational energy costs
- Demonstrate environmental leadership
- Create educational opportunities around renewable energy
- Contribute to Hertfordshire County Council's Net Zero targets
- Access funding to make the project viable
The installation needed to be completed during school holidays to avoid disruption to teaching, and the system needed to be designed with student safety as a priority.
Our Solution
We worked with the school and Hertfordshire County Council to design a 50kW solar installation with integrated educational features:
System Design
- 110 solar panels - High-efficiency 455W panels on two flat-roofed buildings
- Optimised for school hours - East-West orientation to maximise generation during school day
- Ballasted mounting - No roof penetrations, with panels positioned away from edges
- Educational displays - Real-time monitoring screens in reception and science department
- Curriculum integration - Data access for STEM lessons
Salix Funding
We supported the school through the Salix Finance application process:
- Prepared technical specifications and energy modelling
- Calculated payback period and lifetime savings
- Compiled application documentation
- 100% capital funding secured - no cost to school budget
Technical Specifications
System Details
- System capacity: 50kWp
- Panel type: Longi Hi-MO 5 455W
- Number of panels: 110
- Inverter: SolarEdge SE50K
- Mounting: Flat roof ballasted
- Buildings: Main hall, Science block
Educational Features
- Reception area display screen
- Science department dashboard
- Web portal for lesson data access
- Monthly performance reports
- CO2 savings counter
- Curriculum resource pack
Installation
The installation was completed entirely during the summer holiday period:
- Week 1: Scaffolding and roof access, equipment delivery
- Week 2: Panel mounting on main hall roof
- Week 3: Panel mounting on science block, cabling
- Week 4: Inverter installation, grid connection, commissioning
All work was completed before term started, with full system handover and staff training provided.
Results
After the first full year of operation:
£12,000
Annual savings
45,000kWh
Annual generation
10 tonnes
CO2 avoided annually
Educational Impact
- Integrated into GCSE Science curriculum
- Featured in school sustainability week
- Used for A-Level Physics renewable energy module
- Visiting primary schools use as teaching resource
School Feedback
"The installation was completed with no disruption to school operations. The educational displays have been brilliant for engaging students with sustainability, and the savings have freed up budget for other priorities. The Salix funding support was invaluable."
Planning a School Solar Project?
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