Solar panels return to Robertsbridge college

The solar panels have been re-installed at Robertsbridge Community College

The panels at Robertsbridge Community College were taken off in December, 2013, as part of a nationwide scheme to assess their sturdiness during high winds.

A new manufacturer was chosen after extensive research and they were put back last week.

Acting head teacher Doug Downs was pleased with the new solar panels and said the money saved will go back into the college.

The new solar panels were installed at Robertsbridge Community College last week

“We are delighted to be able to reduce the school’s carbon footprint and ensure that as far as possible, every pound recovered goes directly to improving pupil progress,” he said.

A school in the north of England raised the initial concerns as a lightweight German system was installed with insufficient ballast and there was a risk of the panels being blown away.

But solar energy is now feeding the college with power after finding an alternative Dutch design which is suitable for flat roofs, like the building at the college, and has a heavier framework.

It took four days for the new panels to be installed to the main building after originally being introduced in 2012.

The feed-in tariff for these new panels will be at the original level and not under the lower, revised tariff introduced recently.

In another bid to reduce energy bills, the college’s windows are currently being replaced throughout the main building, with work beginning in September.

All of the new windows should be installed by the end of half term which would leave only the main hall needing double-glazed windows.

The school said it would seem the timing is most opportune as the weather forecasters are indicating a particularly cold winter.

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