Sandwell schools in drive for solar scheme

Wednesday 2nd November 2011, 9:00AM GMT.

More schools in Sandwell have applied for permission to install solar panels in a bid to generate their own electricity.

The new four schools add to six which have already submitted applications to Sandwell Council for the unique scheme.

The latest schools are Eaton Valley Primary School in Dagger Lane, West Bromwich, Lodge Primary School in Oak Lane, West Bromwich, Lightwoods Primary School, Castle Road East, Oldbury and Glebefields Primary School, Sandgate Road, Tipton.

At Lightwoods it is planned to install up to 192 panels, 216 at Glebefields, 216 at Eaton Valley and 138 at Lodge Primary.

If approved the panels will be installed by construction firm Interserve. It is said the scheme will not cost the schools any money.

The Interserve Sustainability and Carbon Management scheme has been backed by Sandwell Council and will see the schools generating their own electricity for the next 25 years.

If the panels are installed, the schools will pay for the units of electricity they use from the panels at a reduced rate.

Any extra electricity produced by the panels will be put back into the National Grid.

Applications have already been submitted for solar panels at a series of other schools in the area.

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