Mitie has worked with Essex County Council to manage the installation of roof-mounted solar panels at 15 schools across the county
The new panels will help to significantly reduce carbon emissions and energy costs for the Council.
The panels will produce around 700,000 kWh of renewable energy every year, equivalent to the energy needed to power 185 homes, saving 180 tonnes of CO2 and around £115,000, with an estimated payback of around 10 years.
Mitie, who provides full facilities management and maintenance services to Essex County Council, managed the entire installation process. This included a full review of the Council’s estate of more than 250 locations to identify the priority sites, creating business cases and feasibility studies, and securing government funding, as well as overseeing the selection of specialist suppliers and installation.
With the project focused on helping to tackle the climate crisis and reduce emissions for generations to come, it was fitting that Mitie Communities and Essex County Council prioritised schools for the first phase of solar panel installation.
The project will now move on to phase two of the solar installation programme, installing roof-mounted panels at another 12 schools and 16 core council buildings, such as libraries and children centres, to help drive emissions down further.
Following their installation over the next three months will cut the Council’s carbon emissions by an extra 220 tonnes a year.
Securing a net-zero future
Pradyumna Pandit, managing director, sustainability and energy services, Mitie, said: “Decarbonising the UK’s buildings is key to securing a net-zero future for the next generation, so it’s very fitting that we’re helping Essex County Council cut its emissions by rolling out solar panels across the region’s schools.
“With this project, we’re demonstrating that doing the right thing by our planet doesn’t need to cost the earth, by helping the Council lower its energy bills along with its carbon emissions.”
