18 July 2011

West Midlands school receives £30,000 for renewable project
A school in Willenhall has been awarded £30,000 from EDF Energy to help develop a renewable energy project.

The grant comes from the EDF Energy Green Fund and will help pay for solar thermal panels to heat Willenhall School Sports Colleges swimming pool.

The swimming pool is used by the schools 1,600 students and the public for swimming lessons, clubs, aqua aerobics and lifeguard and swimming teachers qualification training programmes.

The solar thermal panels will be fitted to the roof of the swimming pool building and work alongside the schools existing gas boilers.

The college also hopes to install electronic display units that will show how much energy the panels are generating and the carbon emissions that are being saved. Data would then be uploaded to the school website and used by staff and students when discussing renewable technology and creating targets for reducing energy consumption at the school.

Anthony Derrer, Community Manager at Willenhall School Sports College, said: Were delighted that the EDF Energy Green Fund is able to help make this exciting project a reality and show other schools that renewables can help ensure the long term viability of swimming pools. We hope that this project acts a catalyst for more change within our school and the local community to become more sustainable.

All funding is now in place and the installation is expected to begin in the autumn.

The school is already implementing a range of sustainable habits as one of more than 12,500 schools that are part of The Pod, EDF Energys online programme for greener schools.

Over the past two years, the school has reduced electricity consumption by more than 18 per cent, through raising awareness among staff and students and installing more energy efficient lighting.

EDF Energy has awarded £4.8million to 270 renewable energy projects, including dozens in the South West. Since the Green Fund was launched in 2001, more than £2 million has been given to 117 educational projects including those in schools, nurseries and colleges. The fund supports renewable energy projects which produce power from the sun, wind, water and geothermal sources that reduce greenhouse gases linked to global warming.

Mark Thompson, EDF Energy Green Fund manager, said: Were delighted to announce that Willenhall School Sports College has been successful in its grant application. EDF Energy is extremely happy to support what is a very innovative and exciting project. Thanks to customers on our Green Tariff, EDF Energy has been able to invest millions of pounds into small-scale renewable projects through the fund, all part of our commitment to diverse low carbon solutions across the country.

In all, ten projects have been awarded £239,868 in the latest EDF Energy Green Fund funding round.

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