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Pupils at a North-East school are harnessing green energy and learning about its benefits thanks to Explore Renewables, an initiative launched earlier this year by One NorthEast, the New and Renewable Energy Centre (NaREC) and eaga.

So far, more than 100 schools across the region have signed up to take a hands-on approach to learning about low and zero carbon technologies. 

Free to all publicly-funded middle and secondary schools in the region, Explore Renewables provides science teachers with a specially designed “Solar Thermal Trolley” for classroom demonstrations, key stage three curriculum support material and access to an interactive website.

And as a reward for the enthusiastic response to the project by pupils and teachers, Newminster Middle School in Morpeth was selected to have a full solar thermal and photovoltaic system installed by eaga. 

To help pupils to fully understand the process of capturing renewable energy, display units show the performance and outputs of the devices in real terms such as water temperature, energy yield and solar radiation

Paul Lawrence, Head Teacher at Newminster Middle School, said: “Not only is this helping the school save carbon and lower our fuel bills, but perhaps more importantly it is inspiring pupils to learn more about how renewable energy can help protect the environment and ensure a sustainable future. Being able to see and touch something is a wonderful learning aid and this has certainly captured the imagination of the pupils and will help with their curriculum work.”

Steve Caseley, Managing Director of eaga Renewables, added: “As well as making science lessons fun, we estimate these solar panels are already saving more than 1,300kg of carbon each year. Given the Government’s Climate Change Bill has now set legally binding targets for the UK to cut its C02 emissions by 80% by 2050 these are just the kind of projects at a local authority level that can help us get there and meet what will inevitably become increasingly tough carbon saving obligations.”

Mark Taylor, NaREC’s Project Manager for Explore Renewables, said: “NaREC is delighted with the success of the project thus far in helping teachers to educate their students on the emergence of renewable energy.  Feedback from schools which have taken part this year has been excellent, and with some units still remaining for distribution we would urge others to grab this opportunity with both hands.”

Any school interested in finding out more about Explore Renewables can visit www.explorerenewables.co.uk