5 school and community centre sites helped to cut energy bills by £42k

4 November 2024

Solar panels, batteries, LED lighting and loft insulation have been fitted at five Powys schools, with community centres attached, in a bid to make them more sustainable.

The work is expected to deliver combined annual cost savings of around £42,000 and carbon savings estimated at 23 tonnes of CO₂e.

The sites benefiting from the schemes developed by Powys County Council's Property Design Services are:

• Berriew County Primary School and Community Centre.
• Newbridge-on-Wye Church in Wales School and Community Hall.
• Ysgol Cwm Banwy and Canolfan y Banw in Llangadfan.
• Ysgol Glantwymyn and Community Centre (Cemmaes Road).
• Ysgol Dolafon and Bromsgrove Hall in Llanwrtyd Wells.

It follows similar improvements made at school and community centre sites in Arddleen, Tregynon and Llangattock last year.

The work has been supported by Assets Collaboration Programme Wales grant funding from Welsh Government (Ystadau Cymru).

Work completed in 2024:

• 11 kWp solar panels with 11 kWh battery storage, LED light fittings and 200mm of loft insulation installed at Berriew County Primary School.
• 11 kWp solar panels with 11 kWh battery storage, LED light fittings and 200mm of loft insulation installed at Berriew Community Centre.
• 11 kWp solar panels with 11 kWh battery storage, installed at Newbridge-on-Wye Church in Wales School.
• 3.69 kWp solar panels with 5.8 kWh battery storage, installed at Newbridge-on-Wye Community Hall.
• 11 kWp solar panels with 11 kWh battery storage, LED light fittings and 200mm of loft insulation installed at Ysgol Cwm Banwy.
• LED light fittings and 200mm of loft insulation installed at Canolfan y Banw.
• 11 kWp solar panels with 11 kWh battery storage, LED light fittings and 200mm of loft insulation installed at Ysgol Glantwymyn.
• 11 kWp solar panels with 11 kWh battery storage, LED light fittings and 200mm of loft insulation installed at Glantwymyn Community Centre.
• 11 kWp solar panels with 11 kWh battery storage, LED light fittings and 200mm of loft insulation installed at Ysgol Dolafon.
• LED light fittings and 200mm of loft insulation installed at Bromsgrove Hall.

"We are grateful to Welsh Government for this grant funding, which we anticipate will help the schools and community centres that have benefited to cut their electricity bills by up to a third," said Councillor Jake Berriman, Powys County Council's Cabinet Member for a Connected Powys. "It is also helping them to cut their carbon footprint and moving us towards our target - set by Welsh Government - to be net zero for greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

"As a council, we want to support our communities to be more sustainable for future generations as part of our Sustainable Powys approach."

Jayne Bryant MS, Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government added: "The Welsh Government is proud to support sustainable initiatives in Powys through Ystadau Cymru and the Assets Collaboration Programme Wales grant scheme. This project is a significant step towards our ambitious goal of achieving net zero by 2030, while also encouraging sustainability for future generations."

The projects were all delivered by Ian Jones Electrical Contractors of Caersws.

Funding for the work was also provided through Powys County Council's Schools Major Improvements programme.

PICTURE: The solar panels installed at Berriew County Primary School.