WP PV Guide
User Manual:
Open the PDF directly: View PDF 
.
Page Count: 8
www.lowcarbonhub.org
Wheatley Park School
Quick Guide to Your Solar Project
www.lowcarbonhub.org
Wheatley Park School
Contents
Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 3
Using this quick guide ........................................................................................................................ 3
Contact us ......................................................................................................................................... 3
Your web page .................................................................................................................................. 3
Overview of the installation ............................................................................................................... 4
Specification and key numbers ...................................................................................................... 4
Project duration and commissioning date ...................................................................................... 4
How the programme works ............................................................................................................... 4
Sale of solar electricity to the school.................................................................................................. 5
Key dates [Payment terms 14 days]: .............................................................................................. 5
Other important things to know ........................................................................................................ 6
Key documentation ....................................................................................................................... 6
Insurance and system maintenance ............................................................................................... 6
Solar generation monitoring .......................................................................................................... 6
Usual electricity supplier................................................................................................................ 6
Sunlight! ........................................................................................................................................ 6
Further solar electricity panels....................................................................................................... 6
Roof repairs ................................................................................................................................... 6
Broader benefits of the scheme ......................................................................................................... 7
Educational benefits ...................................................................................................................... 7
Other resources and opportunities ................................................................................................ 7
About the Low Carbon Hub ............................................................................................................... 7
Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................... 8
www.lowcarbonhub.org
Wheatley Park School
Introduction
After months of collaborative work your School’s solar PV installation is fully operational! You can
now enjoy the benefits of clean, renewable energy for 20 years. It will also act as an inspiring focal
point for the School and local community, contributing to the climate change challenge and reducing
the School’s electricity bills.
Using this quick guide
The purpose of this quick guide is to provide a summary of all the key aspects of the project, setting
out clearly the responsibilities of the Low Carbon Hub and the School. As we continue to develop
projects with other schools across the County, we welcome your feedback you on the handbook and
our Solar Energy for Schools programme, so we can make improvements where possible.
Contact us
Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any queries. Please state the name of the
School/Academy you’re calling from when you correspond:
Type of enquiry
Email
Telephone
Invoice related queries
accounts@lowcarbonhub.org
01865 246099
Technical support and any other queries
info@lowcarbonhub.org
01865 246099
Your web page
Information about your installation, including access to the monitoring data can be found here:
http://www.lowcarbonhub.org/projects/wheatley-park-school
www.lowcarbonhub.org
Wheatley Park School
Overview of the installation
Specification and key numbers
Details
Maths
Media/Eng
Total
Size of solar project in kWp
18.75
30
48.75
Solar panels (Renesola 250 Watts peak capacity)
x 77
120
195
Inverter make: SolarMax Sputnik
x 2
x 2
x 4
Estimated annual solar electricity in kWh
17,200*
24,300
41,500
Solar generation used on-site (kWh, estimated)
12,380*
17,500
29,880
% of solar generated that is used on-site
72%
72%
72%
CO2 saving per annum (tonnes)
7.6
10.8
18.5
CO2 avoided during project life (tonnes)
153
216
369
* It is anticipated there will be a small, gradual degradation in panel output throughout the life of the system
Project duration and commissioning date
Commissioning date: 11th August 2014;
Project duration: 20 years;
Project developer: Low Carbon Hub
Installer: Joju Solar (commissioned by the Low Carbon Hub).
How the programme works
A roof agreement was signed by the school to enable the solar panels to be owned and
operated by the Low Carbon Hub for a period of 20 years (agreement available on request);
The solar installation was installed at no cost to the school. The Low Carbon Hub raised the
money to pay for the installations via a community share offer and receives the project
revenues.
Project revenues
The income is received from three sources:
Feed-in tariff – the Low Carbon Hub receives money for every unit of renewable electricity
generated. This is part of a Government incentive scheme to help reduce carbon emissions
and once installed, the payments will be honoured for 20 years;
Export tariff – in some cases the Low Carbon Hub sells electricity back to the grid (for
installations under 30kWp in size, this is assumed to be 50% of the amount generated. For
installations above 30kWp, actual export data is used instead);
Sale of electricity to the school – the Low Carbon Hub sells the solar electricity used on-site
to the school at 25% less per unit than the school pays through their standard day-time
electricity tariff.
www.lowcarbonhub.org
Wheatley Park School
This revenue pays back the community shareholders their capital over time and the surplus is then
split almost evenly three ways:
1. The school gets a discount on the solar electricity it buys (as mentioned above);
2. Community shareholders receive a fair return for their investment (5% internal rate of
return projected);
3. Community benefit – the remaining surplus goes to the Low Carbon Hub to support further
community energy projects. At the time of writing the projects include:
o encouraging further schools to install renewable energy;
o supporting energy efficiency projects (in our first year this included providing
support to 20 householders in fuel poverty with external wall insulation);
o helping a range of community groups to create their own local energy projects.
Sale of solar electricity to the school
The school continues to purchase grid imported electricity in the normal way from their usual
electricity supplier. The 20-year agreement between the Low Carbon Hub and the School is about
the solar electricity used on-site, and the Low Carbon Hub will invoice the School each quarter for
this. For these solar units you have consumed, we will apply a 25% discount compared to the
standard unit cost you are paying through your existing electricity supplier. To calculate your
discount we need to know what your current electricity prices are.
If the school buys electricity through the central purchasing contract with Oxfordshire County
Council, we will contact them directly to find out what your current unit cost is.
If your school arranges its own electricity purchasing, you will need to provide us with a copy of
your last quarter’s electricity bill before the end of the current quarter. In the first instance, if this
hasn’t been received your electricity will be charged at the previous quarters prices. If a bill hasn’t
been received by the subsequent quarter electricity will be charged at the full rate until we receive a
copy of your electricity bill. We are happy to receive scanned copies of bills by email, please send
them to accounts@lowcarbonhub.org.
If you change your electricity procurement arrangements, please let us know so we can keep our
records up to date.
Key dates [Payment terms 14 days]:
Period
Price information to be received by
Billing date
December to February
End of February
Early March
March to May
End of May
Early June
June to August
End of August
Early September
September to November
End of November
Early December
www.lowcarbonhub.org
Wheatley Park School
Other important things to know
Key documentation
If you require copies of any key documents, for example the lease (legal) contract – we are able to
provide copies. Please let us know.
Insurance and system maintenance
The Low Carbon Hub is responsible for insuring the panels and for maintaining solar installation for
20 years.
Solar generation monitoring
The Low Carbon Hub will be closely monitoring the performance of the solar installation. However,
the school also has access to monitor progress. Please contact us and we can show you how to do
this.
Usual electricity supplier
The school has agreed to take such steps as are reasonably practicable to ensure adequate security
of the Property and the Buildings being no more onerous and at no additional cost to the Landlord as
currently provided.
Sunlight!
It is obviously important that sunlight is allowed to reach the panels. The school has agreed to
manage the growth of trees in the vicinity of the buildings where the panels are installed so that
there is no shading of the solar panels.
Further solar electricity panels
Should the school consider installing further solar panels to the same Meter Point Administration
Number (MPAN), please discuss this with us. This would require the consent of the Low Carbon Hub
as there may be implications for our programme.
Roof repairs
Should the school need to make repairs or modifications to the roofs where panels are located,
it is a contractual requirement that the School plans the works with the Low Carbon Hub.
Please contact us.
www.lowcarbonhub.org
Wheatley Park School
Broader benefits of the scheme
Educational benefits
In addition to the monitoring information, we can help connect you to relevant educational
resources. If you want to arrange for someone to visit the school to discuss the technology, or
explain the project in more depth, we can also help to organise this.
Other resources and opportunities
The Low Carbon Hub is talking to a range of local organisations on how to make Oxfordshire schools
more sustainable. We will keep you posted of any relevant opportunities and resources you may find
interesting. Equally, if you are aware of any resources or opportunities you feel could benefit other
schools, please let us know.
At the time of writing, we are working with:
Oxfordshire County Council (Stark metering and schools energy advice);
EiE (energy management training);
Groundwork (supporting eco school programmes);
Friends of the Earth Run on Sun campaign;
Community Action Groups (CAG’s).
To find out more, please go to our online listing at www.lowcarbonhub.org/SchoolSolar
About the Low Carbon Hub
The Low Carbon Hub is a social enterprise that is championing community energy for Oxfordshire.
The Hub is spearheading the development of a new energy system with communities at the heart.
We do this by developing renewable energy schemes with schools, businesses, the public sector and
communities to put local power in the hands of local people. Oxford City and Oxfordshire County
Council have an appointed Director on our Board, and we work together in partnership with these
shared aims. To find out more, visit our website at http://www.lowcarbonhub.org
www.lowcarbonhub.org
Wheatley Park School
Acknowledgements
A huge number of people have worked with the Low Carbon Hub to help Oxfordshire schools install
renewable energy. In particular, we would like to thank:
You! Without the time and effort of key school staff and governors, this project would not
have been possible;
Oxford North Community Renewables, including St Barnabas and The Cherwell School –
ONCORE volunteers as well as governors and staff at The Cherwell School and St Barnabas
were very generous with their time and enthusiasm, helping us to learn from their
experiences;
Oxfordshire County Council and their partners – a wide range of departments were involved
to scrutinise, and facilitate this programme – covering areas such as energy and the
environment; facilities; surveying; asbestos and the legal team;
Oxford City Council – in 2014, the City Council took the courageous decision to help the
programme to build projects in a timely fashion by offering access to a short-term
construction fund – protecting the scheme from utilising much higher commercial lending
rates;
Community shareholders – without the community shareholders, it would not be possible to
fund the programme of school solar installations;
Community groups – many introductions to the school have come through local community
groups;
In addition, we received huge support and encouragement from a number of other
organisations including: Community Action Groups; Groundwork; Environmental
Information Exchange (Oxford Brookes); Friends of the Earth (both local and national);
Climate Outreach and Information Network (COIN).
Low Carbon Hub
23 Park End Street
Oxford OX1 1HU
info@lowcarbonhub.org
www.lowcarbonhub.org
@LowCarbonHub
