Withernsea High School now has solar panels on its roof.
It was one of three schools, alongside Kingsway Primary and Marshlands Primary in Goole, to benefit from a Department for Education grant of £218,000. East Riding was awarded the most of any local authority in the country for the project.
Across the three sites, the solar panels are expected to save around £71,000 in energy bills each year, and will decrease emissions by 75,000kg CO2 per year – that’s the equivalent of non-stop driving for 42 years!
Schools display instant information of how much energy their panels are generating, the amount of carbon they’re offsetting, and how much money they’re saving. Pupils can see the financial and environmental benefits of solar power as it happens.
Withernsea High School has also benefitted from EV chargers, for four electric vehicles.
Councillor Victoria Aitken, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education said:
“I’m delighted that three of our schools now have the benefit of solar power – reducing costs for the schools and decreasing carbon emissions. The installations follow the completion of solar carports at our leisure sites, vehicle depots, Champney Treasure House roof and roofs of over 300 council-owned homes.
“The cost savings benefit every child, as each school can now reinvest these savings within the curriculum.
“Pupils can see how renewable energy helps tackle climate change and deliver a sustainable future. The project will also help inspire children and young people to become the innovators, engineers and environmental leaders of tomorrow.”
The council measures the carbon emissions for all schools and corporate buildings and has targets to reach net zero by 2050.
