Five Powys schools have benefited from green energy systems to make them more sustainable

Five Powys schools, which have community centers attached to them, have had solar panels, batteries, LED lighting and loft insulation installed to make them more sustainable.

The work is expected to deliver a combined annual cost saving of approximately £42,000 and carbon savings estimated at 23 tonnes of CO₂e.

The locations benefiting from the programs developed by Powys County Council’s Property Design Services are Berriew County Primary School and Community Centre, Newbridge-on-Wye Church in Wales School and Community Hall, Ysgol Cwm Banwy and Canolfan y Banw in Llangadfan, Ysgol Glantwymyn and Community Center (Cemmaes Road) and Ysgol Dolafon and Bromsgrove Hall in Llanwrtyd Wells.

It follows similar improvements made last year at schools and community centers in Arddleen, Tregynon and Llangattock.

The work was supported by an Assets Collaboration Program Wales grant from the Welsh Government (Ystadau Cymru).

Works completed in 2024 include 11 kWp solar panels with 11 kWh battery storage, LED lighting fixtures and 200mm loft insulation installed at Berriew County Primary School, 11 kWp solar panels with 11 kWh battery storage, LED lighting fixtures and 200mm loft insulation installed at Berriew Community Centre, 11 kWp solar panels with 11 kWh battery storage, installed at Newbridge-on-Wye Church in Wales School, 3.69 kWp solar panels with 5.8 kWh battery storage, installed at Newbridge-on-Wye Community Hall, and 11 kWp solar -energy panels with 11 kWh battery storage, LED lighting fixtures and 200mm loft insulation installed at Ysgol Cwm Banwy.

Here also LED lighting fixtures and 200mm attic insulation installed at Canolfan y Banw, 11 kWp solar panels with 11 kWh battery storage, LED lighting fixtures and 200 mm attic insulation installed at Ysgol Glantwymyn, 11 kWp solar panels with 11 kWh battery storage, LED lighting fixtures and 200mm loft insulation installed at Glantwymyn Community Centre, 11kWp solar panels with 11kWh battery storage, LED lighting fixtures and 200mm loft insulation installed at Ysgol Dolafon and LED lighting fixtures and 200mm loft insulation installed at Bromsgrove Hall.

“We are grateful to the Welsh Government for this grant, which we expect will help the schools and community centers that have benefited from it reduce their electricity bills by up to a third,” said Councilor Jake Berriman, Powys County Council Cabinet Member for a Connected Powys.

“It will also help them reduce their carbon footprint and move us towards our target – set by the Welsh Government – ​​of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

“As a council we want to support our communities to be more sustainable for future generations, as part of our Sustainable Powys approach.”

Jayne Bryant MS, Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government added: “The Welsh Government is proud to support sustainable initiatives in Powys through Ystadau Cymru and the Assets Collaboration Program Wales grant scheme. This project is an important step towards our ambitious goal of achieving net zero by 2030, while encouraging sustainability for future generations.”

The projects were all delivered by Ian Jones Electrical Contractors from Caersws.

Funding for the work was also provided through Powys County Council’s Schools Major Improvements programme.