A secondary school has installed solar panels on its roofs to help cut electricity bills.

Rickmansworth School had 760 solar panels fitted to roofs of its buildings over the summer months as a part of the school’s drive to reach net zero.  

Panels, on the sports hall, swimming pool and main school hall roofs, are capable of producing 250,000 kWh of energy per year, equivalent to 65 tonnes of CO2 and enough to power 12 households for a whole year, according to the school.

Watford Observer: The solar panels were largely funded by Rickmansworth School.The solar panels were largely funded by Rickmansworth School. (Image: Rickmansworth School)

They were largely funded by the school, although some Department for Education capital funding was also allocated to the project.

Headteacher Matt Fletcher said: “With rising electricity prices, the school hopes that the panels will have paid for themselves within six years and have a lifespan of more than 25 years, generating electricity for the school for years to come.

“The new solar panels are part of Rickmansworth School’s ongoing sustainability strategy.

“The school has a thriving student Eco Committee, and the group recently achieved the Eco-Schools Green Flag Merit.

“We are now planning the next steps towards net carbon zero and we were recently awarded a public sector grant for a Heat Decarbonisation Plan.”