Mark Group

£50m Fund Announced for School Solar Power

Monday 06 September 2010

Climate Change Minister, Greg Barker’s congratulations for renewable technology enabler, Our Generation on the announcement of its £50m fund for school solar power this week, have been well received by preferred installer, Mark Group.

The private sector funding has been secured by Our Generation as a result of the Government’s Feed in Tariff, launched in April of this year. And, working with, Mark Group, it will enable hundreds of schools throughout Britain to have solar electricity systems installed free of charge and low-cost fixed price energy for 25 years.

Greg Barker MP recognised this approach to providing renewable energy by visiting Birchwood High School in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire on Monday morning. Birchwood is the first to benefit from the scheme offered by Our Generation, having the largest solar electricity system on a school anywhere in the UK, which would have cost over £200,000 to install.

Minister for Energy and Climate Change, Greg Barker, said: “The school children at Birchwood High are showing how going green is not only good for the planet but makes good financial sense too. Feed-in tariffs have given a much needed boost to the industry with great take up so far.

“The £50m investment being announced today by Our Generation means lots more schools across the country are going to be able to benefit from clean energy and lower fuel bills.”

The investment of £50m will enable Our Generation to roll its programme out across England, Scotland and Wales, offering schools fixed rate payment packages at rates much lower than those for traditional ‘brown fuels’. The packages combine heavily reduced energy generation prices, alongside payments received through the Government’s Feed in Tariff scheme.

Ian Goodwin, Director, Our Generation, added: “The Feed in Tariff has without doubt been a catalyst for securing our private sector funding. With this in place we can now roll our programme out for schools throughout Britain, helping staff and students enjoy the benefits of renewable technology, and save money.”

The system installed at Birchwood High School currently generates around seven per cent of the school’s electricity requirements – a figure which they are keen to increase to 10 per cent.

Bill Rumble, Mark Group Commercial Director, concluded: “As we have found with the solar installations we have put in place for private homeowners, renewable technology increases awareness of energy usage and waste. Birchwood is a classic example where the school is working hard to become more energy savvy and as the Our Generation scheme rolls out, we hope to see many more schools follow their lead.”

The packages offered by Our Generation can be tailored to fit any size of school, any age of building, anywhere in the country. For further information visit www.ourgeneration.org.uk or call 0800 111 4960.
 

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