Solar panels and LED lights helping schools and community centres cut bills

11 December 2023

Solar panels and LED lighting have been fitted at two Powys schools, with community centres attached, and are going to be fitted at four more in the New Year.

Arddleen County Primary School, Ysgol Rhiw-Bechan and Tregynon Community Centre, are the sites to have benefited from the schemes developed by Powys County Council's Property Design Services, so far, with similar improvements coming to Berriew County Primary School, Ysgol Dolafon, Ysgol Glantwymyn, Ysgol Cwm Banwy and their attached community centres before the end of March 2024.

The work has been supported by Assets Collaboration Programme Wales grant funding from Welsh Government (Ystadau Cymru), and included:

• 8 kWp roof-mounted photovoltaic (PV) array with 11 kWh battery storage installed at Arddleen County Primary School.
• All lighting replaced with new LED low-energy fittings in Arddleen County Primary School and Arddleen Community Centre.
• 11 kWp roof-mounted photovoltaic (PV) array with 11 kWh battery storage installed at Ysgol Rhiw-Bechan.
• 4 kWp roof-mounted photovoltaic (PV) array with 5.5 kWh battery storage installed at Tregynon Community Centre.
• All lighting replaced with new LED low-energy fittings in Ysgol Rhiw-Bechan.

The lighting improvements at Arddleen are expected to save more than £2,000 per year on electricity bills alone and around 1.3 tonnes equivalent of CO2.

The lighting improvements at Tregynon are expected to save more than £4,500 per year on electricity bills alone and around 2.9 tonnes equivalent of CO2.

"We decided to spend the money we received on projects that could be delivered quickly to help cut energy bills and reduce the carbon footprints of some of the county's schools and community centres," said Cllr Jackie Charlton, Cabinet Member for a Greener Powys. "The focus initially, is on proven technologies that are relatively cheap and easy to install and will deliver benefits immediately.

"I'm pleased to hear that both schools, where renewable energy systems have been installed, are now using them as a teaching aid, with pupils monitoring their performance.

"They have also reported being pretty much self-sufficient in terms of generating enough green energy for their own needs during the summer months."

The project at Arddleen was delivered by Andrew Lister Electrical Contractors of Llandinam and the one at Tregynon by Ian Jones Electrical Contractors of Caersws.

Assets Collaboration Programme Wales grant funding has also been used to help cover the costs of energy surveys in schools and community centres.

PICTURE: The solar panels on the roof of Arddleen County Primary School.