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Mark Group Proves Size Does Matter

Monday 15 February 2010

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Mark Group, the UK’s leading installer of renewable energy solutions has completed an installation of the largest Solar Photovoltaic (PV) array on a school anywhere in the UK.

Completed in late 2009, the 37 kWp (kiloWatt peak) solar electric array was installed on Birchwood High School in Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire. It will generate approximately 30,000kWh (kiloWatt hours) of electricity per annum – the equivalent to that used by around 10 average-sized houses – which will reduce the school’s reliance on the National Grid by around seven per cent.

Mark Group was appointed to work on the installation through Our Generation – an organisation specialising in creating energy saving strategies for the public sector. Our Generation funded the installation of the project, with the school just paying a fixed fee for electricity produced over 25 years.

Martin Corry, Mark Group Business Partnerships Director, said: “The installation at Birchwood High School has been a groundbreaking project on many levels. It’s the first time an array of this size has been installed on a school in the UK, the first time a ‘pay as you go’ system has operated with no capital outlay, and the first time we have worked in partnership with Our Generation.

“What makes it even more exciting, is the spectacular visibility of the array on the school’s sports hall roof. It is an exemplar project which the students at the school and the surrounding community can be proud of – and with a monitoring station in the school reception, there is real time evidence of the power which is being generated from renewable sources.”

The panels were installed on the sports hall but are linked in to contribute to the whole school’s energy requirements. The installation took place working in conjunction with the school’s facilities management team, with the safety of students and smooth running of the school as the highest priority.

Chris Ingate, Birchwood High School Headteacher, added: “This project has exceeded all expectations. The installation was hassle-free and the Mark Group worked closely with our staff and parents throughout.

“Now that the array is operational, thanks to the monitoring station we can see the electricity we are generating and the positive effect this is having on our energy bills. A truly brilliant project, of which staff and students are proud.”

Our Generation is continuing its work with Birchwood High School to reduce its ‘brown’ energy consumption by adding smart meters to all buildings within the school and linking them to the solar PV energy monitoring station.

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