Environmental Energies

    Harborough Energy (Harborough Solar One)/Woodnewton Academy – Solar PV installations

    Size: 57kW
    Est. Production: 48,621kWh pa
    CO2 reduction: 26,000kg/pa


    Harborough Energy is a cooperative set up to provide affordable, clean energy to communities in and around Market Harborough. Their local energy projects offer community investment opportunities as well as reduced energy costs for land and property owners who host their installations.


    This project, completed in August 2016, was with Woodnewton Academy, a learning community located on the northern edge of Corby. It was opened as a primary school in 2012 and became an academy, part of the Woodnewton Academy Trust, in 2012.The facilities cater as a nursery, reception and run through to Year 6.

    Harborough Solar One along with cooperative of investors own the solar PV array and have a 20 year licence with Woodnewton that they provide them with electricity at reduced cost through a Power Purchase Agreement.


    The Goal – To reduce the energy costs for the site at no cost to the academy and to reduce the carbon footprint of the academy. This was an exciting project for the academy and a great opportunity for the pupils to gain some environmental awareness, first hand.


    The solution – To help achieve this goal Environmental Energies installed 3 separate roof mounted solar PV systems across four roofs on the academy’s site. With an estimated annual generation of 48,621 kWh pa and CO2 reduction of over 26 tonnes pa.


    The Benefits – Woodnewton Academy benefit from lower energy costs while community investors are set to receive an estimated 5% annual return.


    The challenge – for this installation was the fact that we were installing on multiple roofs and where one roof had limited access, we also needed to fit the project during holiday period, when pupils would not be onsite.