How It Works

The Co-operative has raised money, primarily but not exclusively from the local community. That money has been used to install solar panels at local secondary schools which will generate electricity. The Co-operative will receive income for the electricity generated by the panels from the Feed In Tariff and also from selling half the electricity generated; the schools receive the benefit of the other half of the electricity generated free of charge.

The participating schools will receive

• half the electricity generated by their panels free of charge and will be able to buy any further electricity generated by those panels that they use at wholesale price
• after the initial few years a share of the Co-operative’s profits, as returns in excess of 6% are intended to be shared with the schools as a benefit to the local community
• an excellent educational resource and
• a major contribution towards their sustainability agenda

In addition to the solar panels the Co-operative will provide the schools with display monitors showing what the panels are producing, a data link to the panels’ output and educational materials – to involve the students and their parents in climate change mitigation, sustainability and renewable energy generation. Some schools may also additionally receive enhancements to their buildings or electricity supply to enable the panels to be installed.