YOUNGSTERS are looking forward to learning about solar panels after a primary school became the latest building in Plymouth to have them installed on its roof.
Mayflower Community Academy and Nursery, in Ham Drive, became the latest community building in the city to have a solar panel roof installed as part of a 'community share offer'.
Launched earlier this year by Plymouth Energy Community Renewables, the community share offer meant members of the public were able to buy shares in the green energy project.
David Sammels, headteacher of Mayflower Community Academy, said the solar panels will be used for children's learning, as well as to save school money.
He said: "The new solar panels will not only save the school money but we will also incorporate it into the children's learning about the environment and renewable energy.
"As the most rapidly improving primary school in the country, we look forward to enabling our pupils to study the data generated by our solar panels.
"We are also excited by the prospect of our community developing a better understanding of how to both make financial savings while investing in their environment."
Supported by Plymouth City Council, the community share offer scheme involves the public purchasing withdrawable shares which earn interest.
As well as providing host buildings with a low-cost energy supply and valuable educational resource, the schemes are set to generate a community benefit fund for PEC's projects, helping residents reduce fuel bills and energy use.
In addition to Mayflower Community Academy, the latest batch of community buildings to benefit will include Plymouth Life Centre, Hele's School, Marine Academy Plymouth, Coombe Dean School and Tor Bridge High.
Councillor Tudor Evans, leader of Plymouth City Council, said: "As a council we are committed to making Plymouth a greener, more environmentally friendly city and these solar panels will help Mayflower Academy save a significant amount on its energy bill, as well as provide a fantastic example of community-owned renewable energy in action."
He added: "It's a shame that the Government's recent proposals fundamentally undermine this good work and put thousands of jobs at risk across the South West.
"We call on the Government to revise its support for community-owned small-scale renewables."
Alistair MacPherson, chief executive of PEC, said: "The community share offer scheme has been a great success and provided renewable energy sources for local community buildings which will help a lot of people as well as the local environment.
"Last year's project enabled 21 schools and community sites to generate energy from the sun."
For further information about the scheme, please visit www.plymouthenergycommunity.com
For further information on DECC's consultation proposing significant changes to the current Feed-in Tariff (FIT) scheme, visit www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-a-review-of-the-feed-in-tariff-scheme.