The Business Academy Bexley

The Business Academy Bexley, the first 'City Academy' to open (2002), decided in 2011 that to become the first city academy in the UK to get a solar farm installed on-site. The introduction of this massive system was designed to slash electricity costs and enhance educational opportunities.

The solar photovoltaic (PV) farm will has a 558.6kW peak capacity and can generate around 45% of the electricity used by the Academy, cutting an estimated £46,790 off its annual £104,700 electricity bill and reducing its carbon footprint by 457 tonnes a year.

Bexley Council's Planning Committee followed its planning officer's recommendation and voted in favour of the application on the 9 June. Work on installing the solar farm, which covers an area nearly three times the size of Wembley football pitch, started in late June with a completion date at the end of July.

The project in Yarnton Way, Thamesmead was being developed in partnership with the Academy - with Enevis providing the design and installation inline with its pedigree in mechanical and electrical engineering.

The ground-mounted solar farm is the largest at any UK school and, following the Government announcement that Feed-in Tariff support is to be sharply reduced for schemes larger than 50kW, is likely to remain the sole installation of this scale to be attached to any Academy or school.

Included within the proposal was a renewable energy education centre overlooking the solar farm for use by pupils from the Academy and other local schools.

"Getting the go-ahead for the solar farm is fantastic news for The Business Academy Bexley", said Chief Executive Mrs Sam Elms. "We have forged the way since being the first academy to open in 2003. We were the first to open a primary and become an all-through primary/secondary and now we will be the first to have a large solar farm.

"We are working hard to ensure that we run the Academy as efficiently as possible. Producing our own, clean, green power will save us nearly £50,000 a year on our electricity bill; money that will be spent on educating our children – which, after all, is why we are here.

"This landmark project will reinforce our position as an eco-school and help us secure Green Flag status. It will also allow the students to learn about and see first hand the benefits of renewable energy technologies and how they can play a major role in helping us all reduce our dependence on fossil fuels."

The 4.2-acre solar farm was built on a derelict, marshy site owned by the Academy that was formerly occupied by now demolished Thamesmead Community College buildings.

"We are pleased to be working with the Academy in helping to mitigate their future energy costs as well as providing an education facility that will enable the next generation to gain an understanding of the applicability and benefits of renewable energy technology," said Enevis Commercial Director Ashley Bateup. "Given the certainty of ever-rising energy prices, the installation of a renewable energy resource, such as solar PV, is something that we expect an increasing number of Academies and schools to embrace. Accordingly, we will be expanding our free solar PV installation service across the education sector.

"With renewable energy becoming an increasingly important part of everyday life, we feel it is vital that young people have a chance to see it in action and to learn more about it. With this in mind we are working to develop a range of teaching materials with the Academy that are linked to the national curriculum.

"The installation of a renewable energy system is something that every business should consider. Working in partnership with a company like Enevis makes it possible for businesses to reduce their energy costs and cut their carbon footprint through the use of the free, green power produced."

The Business Academy Bexley's solar farm consists of 133 eight-foot high frames, each containing 20 solar PV panels screened by a boundary hedge. The installation has a total peak capacity of 558.6kW with the electricity generated exported via an underground cable to an existing substation in the Academy's grounds.