Solar Energy For
Education

Solar PV solutions for Schools, Colleges and Universities

Introducing Solar For The Next Generation

Powering Education’s Future

Schools, academies, colleges, and universities are facing growing financial pressures.

Rising energy costs continue to impact operational budgets at a time when organisations are balancing investment in facilities, teaching resources, student support, and long-term estate improvements.

At the same time, many education providers are working towards ambitious sustainability objectives, seeking practical ways to reduce carbon emissions while demonstrating environmental leadership to students, staff, parents, governors, and the wider community.

Renewable energy offers an opportunity to address both challenges.

Shawton Energy works with education providers across the UK to reduce energy costs, strengthen sustainability performance, and improve long-term energy resilience through fully funded renewable energy solutions.

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Why Choose Solar?

Large Rooftop Potential

Many education estates offer extensive roof space across classrooms, sports halls, workshops, and support buildings.

High Daytime Energy Demand

Schools, colleges, and universities typically use most of their electricity during daylight hours.

Estate Potential

Large estates and predictable energy demand create ideal conditions for renewable energy deployment and long-term energy savings.

Long-Term Financial Resilience

Solar reduces reliance on grid electricity and protects institutions against rising energy costs.

Benefits Of Solar Energy In Education

Reducing Costs Without Significant Capital Investment

Many schools, academies, colleges, and universities would prefer to invest available capital into teaching, facilities, technology, and student outcomes rather than energy infrastructure.

A Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) allows organisations to access renewable energy without significant upfront expenditure.

Under this model, Shawton Energy designs, delivers, owns, and operates the solar system while the education provider purchases the electricity generated at an agreed rate.

This provides access to lower-cost renewable electricity while preserving budgets for educational priorities.

Today, Shawton Energy forms part of AMPYR Distributed Energy, combining specialist renewable energy delivery expertise with long-term infrastructure ownership and funding capability. This provides confidence that projects are designed, funded, and managed for the long term.

No upfront costs

The solar PV system is installed and funded by Shawton Energy, so you do not need to make a large initial capital investment.

Stable energy costs

A power purchase agreement gives you greater certainty over electricity pricing across the contract period.

Lower electricity bills

Electricity generated on site from solar PV is often cheaper than grid electricity in the UK, leading to immediate savings on your energy bills.

No maintenance responsibility

Shawton Energy typically handles installation, monitoring, and maintenance, so you benefit from solar power without the operational burden.

Our Process

01

Scope

We begin by thoroughly understanding your business needs, future energy goals, available roof or ground space, and site layout. This helps us design the most effective solar solutions tailored to your specific situation. If any repair work is required before installation, we offer a range of solutions to ensure your site is fully prepared for optimal solar performance.

02

Design

We develop and present an optimal solar panel design tailored for your business. Our goal is to deliver significant cost savings while ensuring the design aligns with your carbon reduction commitments. By understanding your unique energy needs and sustainability objectives, we create a solar solution that maximises efficiency and supports your long-term environmental goals.

03

Sign-Off

We facilitate the agreement and sign-off process for the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) and lease agreements. This ensures that all terms are clearly defined and mutually agreed upon, providing a solid foundation for your solar project. These agreements outline the financial and operational aspects of your solar installation, ensuring transparency and alignment with your business objectives.

04

Install

We understand that education environments require careful planning to minimise disruption to staff and students.

Our engineering teams work around academic schedules, examinations, safeguarding requirements, and campus operations to deliver safe, efficient installations while ensuring learning environments remain secure and fully operational.

05

Maintain

Under a PPA, we provide real-time management of your solar energy generation and supply, ensuring optimal performance at all times. Our team is dedicated to maintaining your equipment through regular servicing and prompt repairs, reducing downtime and increasing efficiency. This proactive approach ensures that your solar system operates smoothly and reliably, supporting your business’s energy needs.

Trusted by leading brands:

Case Studies

Carlton Academy Trust

817 kWp Solar PV

313kWp installed in 2025, with 504kWp planned for future instalments, and BESS installations soon to take place.

Wigan & Leigh College

244 kWp Rooftop Solar

Solar PV installed across 3 campuses. Sessions held with students to showcase potential careers in the renewable industry.

Burnley College College

290.72 kWp Rooftop Solar

Split across 3 buildings within their campus. Solar PV technology has been built into their sylabus to teach students about the renewable tech.

Fully Funded, Turn-Key Long Term Solutions

Every education estate is different. Energy demand, building types, estate size, and organisational objectives all influence what a successful renewable energy project looks like.

If you are exploring ways to reduce energy costs, improve sustainability performance, or strengthen your long-term energy strategy, we would be happy to discuss the opportunities available.

Get in touch with the Shawton Energy team to arrange an initial discussion and feasibility assessment.

Contact us at;

hello@shawtonenergy.co.uk

+44 (0) 1925 794874

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