The Oxfordshire Schools getting gold stars for solar!

For many years, Low Carbon Hub has worked with schools across Oxfordshire on their energy efficiency, including installing solar PV panels to generate their own electricity and helping them identify ways they can become more energy efficient through programmes Action on Carbon and Energy in Schools (ACES).

We believe that schools are perfect in many ways to lead the charge on clean energy generation and energy efficiency, because:

• Schools can have large roof surfaces that are ideal for hosting solar panels.
• In doing so, the schools can benefit from reduced energy bills.
• School buildings can be complex in that they can be large, difficult to heat, with different age buildings often on one site, and so bespoke energy efficiency advice can help them save energy and money.
• Schools are key to helping inspire future generations on clean energy and sustainable living.

To date, Low Carbon Hub has installed and managed solar arrays on 31 schools across Oxfordshire, and collectively, they are creating significant carbon savings. We looked at the impact of the school’s solar panels over the last academic year and think they deserve a gold star! In the last school year period, September 2023 to September 2024, our schools have:

• Generated 1,360,451 kWh of clean energy (enough to power the equivalent of 387 average homes for a year) ¹
• Avoided 282 tonnes of CO₂ emissions, as much CO₂ produced driving from Glasgow to London over 3,133 times) ²
• Hosted a total of 5,752 solar panels

We can do more next year

We’re proud of what our solar schools have achieved so far. But we’d love to do even more. We’re looking for more Oxfordshire schools to host our community-owned solar arrays.

If you think your school could benefit from solar panels, we’d love to chat. Find out more and take the first step here.

1. According to the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the average household uses 3,509 kWh per year.  
2. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/transport-and-environment-statistics-2023/transport-and-environment-statistics-2023