Posted on: Friday 8 December 2023
Solar panels have been installed in 14 schools across the borough saving hundreds of thousands of pounds in electricity.
The panels have been installed over the past 8 months, taking the total number of council-owned sites with solar panels to 24.
The 14 solar panel installation systems are anticipated to annually save £150,000 - £200,000 in electricity costs, 500,000 kWh energy and avoid the release of 117 tonnes of carbon dioxide – a lead contributor of global warming.
Councillor Richard Clark, Executive Member for Children, Families & Education said: “Reducing our impact on the environment is high on the agenda in the Council, so we were thrilled to hear that 14 schools were able to have solar panels installed. Over the next few years another 19 schools may be suitable for solar panels too.
‘Our energy team are also looking into installing electric vehicle chargers, making sure schools have LED lighting installed, and installing heat pumps on suitable locations.”
The solar panels have been installed at Coed Eva Primary; Cwmbran High School; Garnteg Primary; George Street Primary; Greenmeadow Primary; New Inn Primary; Nant Celyn Primary; New Inn; Padre Pio Primary; Penygarn Primary; Pontnewydd Primary; West Monmouth School, Woodlands Primary, Ysgol Abersychan School and Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw.
Torfaen Council has used a Welsh Government loan to cover the £1.2m cost of installing the solar panels, which will be repaid by the schools over the next eight years. The schools are already seeing a reduction in their energy bills for the systems installed.
This project is part of the council’s County Plan to respond climate and nature emergencies, and to make improvements to the local environment. Read the County Plan to find out more.
Find out more about how Torfaen Council plans to reduce carbon emissions, click here to read our Climate and Nature Emergency Action Plan.