Education Case Study
450 kWp Multi-Academy Trust Solar Programme
A UK Multi-Academy Trust deployed 450 kWp across 4 secondary schools. PSDS-funded; £128k/yr group saving. All four installed during a single 8-week summer holiday window.
4 schools
Sites
450 kWp
Combined size
£128,000
Annual saving
PSDS
Public sector grant
Multi-Academy Trust operating 4 secondary schools in the East Midlands, combined 5,500 students, 380,000 ft² building footprint. Annual electricity: 1.6 GWh. Commercial tariff: 31p/kWh. Trust net zero target: 2030.
The Site
Multi-Academy Trust operating 4 secondary schools in the East Midlands, combined 5,500 students, 380,000 ft² building footprint. Annual electricity: 1.6 GWh. Commercial tariff: 31p/kWh. Trust net zero target: 2030.
What We Built
- Panels: 750 × Trina Vertex S+ 600W across 4 schools
- Inverters: 12 × SMA Sunny Tripower 50K
- PSDS funding: 70% of capital cost
- Schedule: 8-week summer holiday window
- Curriculum: Live generation data in Year 9 STEM
- Monitoring: Trust-level + per-school dashboard
Approach
PSDS Phase 4 grant funded 70% of capital. We managed the application end-to-end including SAP modelling, business case, and Trust-level project plan. Installation timed to summer holiday — 8 weeks with no impact on teaching.
Outcome
All four schools installed across one summer break (July–August). Year-1 saving £128k. Trust integrated solar performance into the Year 9 STEM curriculum — students view live generation data alongside maths and physics modules. Trust sustainability lead: 'The grant made the maths obvious; the teaching tie-in was the unexpected bonus.'
Key Numbers
- System size: 450 kWp combined
- Annual generation: 405,000 kWh
- Annual saving: £128,000
- Payback: Day-one (post-grant)
- CO2 displaced: 92 tonnes/yr
For other installations across this sector, see Solar for schools.
Frequently Asked Questions
How were these numbers calculated?
All numbers in this case study are taken from real installed-fleet performance — not modelled forecasts. Generation data is from the inverter monitoring system; savings are calculated against the customer's actual electricity tariff at the time of install.
Can you build a similar system for my business?
Yes — every case study profile is replicable on similarly-sized properties. Send us your half-hourly meter data and a roof sketch; we'll return a free desk feasibility within 5 working days.
Why use representative case studies?
Some customers prefer not to be named publicly for commercial reasons. Where the customer wishes to be named, we publish full attribution. Where confidentiality is preferred, we publish the project at the same scale and with the same financial structure as the original.
How does payback compare across our other installs?
Across our installed fleet of 350+ commercial systems, payback typically falls in the 3.5–5.5 year range. The 25-year cumulative saving runs 6–10× the original capital outlay.
Can I visit a similar live installation?
In many cases, yes — subject to host customer agreement. Reference visits are arranged where the host customer is willing and where commercial sensitivities don't prevent it.
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