Primary school’s solar energy scheme approved
A green energy scheme at a village primary school has been given the go-ahead.
Proposals to install more than 500 solar panels at Upton Primary School, near Pontefract, form part of a £2m project.
The school is one of six Wakefield Council-maintained schools to have been chosen to take part in a solar-powered classrooms scheme
An application for the project was lodged in September this year but council planning officers said the work was classed as “permitted development” and prior approval was not required.
The local authority signed up to the Solar for Schools (SfS) project in 2023 as part of its ambition to become a carbon neutral authority.
It is hoped the overall scheme could lead to an annual reduction of 456 tonnes of greenhouse gas
Documents submitted by SfS, a not-for-profit organisation, said it was unlikely that “glint and glare” from the panels would affect residents living close to the school on Waggon Lane.
A statement said: “There are plenty of trees surrounding the school site that make it extremely difficult to see the roof slopes.
“The possibility of negative impact from the proposed installation will be very difficult.
“It is considered that the proposed installation would only enhance the school building and appeal of being a modern learning centre looking towards the future and creating a vision of sustainability for its students.”
Five other primary schools in the district have been chosen to take part in a pilot project – Featherstone Purston St Thomas’, Hendal Primary, Moorthorpe Primary, Carlton J&I and Ackworth Howard J&I.
Installing solar panels on school roofs or land enables a direct feed of renewable electricity.
SfS retains the rights to sell any surplus electricity to National Grid.
The council, which has set itself a target of becoming a carbon neutral organisation by 2030, became involved in the project following a recommendation from West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
SfS has worked with a number of schools and local authorities, including neighbouring Leeds City Council.
In February this year, Upton Primary was also chosen to receive a share of funding to de-carbonise council buildings.
Much of the funding came from the government after the council was awarded £3.8m by the department for energy security and net zero (DESNZ).
The grant was part of the public sector de-carbonisation scheme, which helps organisation improve their property estates, primarily by switching older gas boilers to heat pumps.