Council champion leads the way in sustainability

Abersychan School in Pontypool, Torfaen, which recently had solar panels installed has received a ‘Solar Explorer Kit’ from Solar for Schools. The school is leading by example in its area, modelling to its students and to the wider community the value of sustainable practices by embracing clean, renewable energy. The Solar Explorer Kit, together with the solar on the school rooftop is being used directly to inspire and educate students about sustainable energy use and climate resilience.  

The project has been driven forward by Ceri Williams, Torfean Council’s Energy Finance Officer leading on the Education Finance. For the last 25 years, Ceri has worked closely with schools helping them to implement Energy Saving projects to reduce energy costs, consumption and carbon emissions, while raising awareness through energy saving and climate change education to Key Stage 2 and leadership teams within secondary schools. 

At the end of last year, the school benefited from a morning’s workshop with its KS3 (Year 9) on energy. Delivered by Solar for Schools - it gave the students a chance to compare and analyse different clean and fossil-based sources of fuel. They also looked at what a kWh is, and how energy can be measured. Solar for Schools tailored the workshop to the schools needs and interests, and the Solar Explorer Kit was used to demonstrate how exactly solar works, what its limitations are and what happens at night. 

Ceri Williams, a long-standing and passionate champion for renewable energy, has been pushing sustainability practices up the agenda at Abersychan – and across the Borough of Torfaen - bringing the students along too, inspiring them to get involved where possible. It was thanks to Ceri’s persistence and grant application writing that the school managed to acquire an enabling grant through the Climate Change Reserve Fund. 

"I thoroughly enjoy making a difference across schools and seeing the results achieved from the relationship I have with the staff and pupils and ultimately reducing energy and carbon across the region", explained Ceri.  

Using the Solar Explorer Kit, Ceri now has a hands-on way to engage the pupils about the solar, beyond the real-time energy data monitoring – which is also available to students from the system through a live feed. 

Our Head of Education, Wendy Litherland, delivered the event at Aberscyhan School in the autumn, and said about the school, and Ceri's vital role:

“Ceri has been working closely with schools implementing Energy Saving projects to reduce costs, consumption and carbon emissions. We hope the Solar Explorer Kit will raise awareness by providing hands-solar energy learning that pupils can directly relate to savings. Helping Ceri in her quest to support more leadership teams within schools is something we are proud to be associated with. She supports schools through energy forecasting to education finance and individual budget holders for each school and whilst work closely with Property Services in the tendering process for all Energy Saving Projects.”  

 Wendy went on to explain:

“This is a wrap-around process. The service we provide at Solar for Schools is from start to finish, but education is more than just a cherry on the top – it’s central to our mission. If we educate the next generation on climate resilience and give them tools to be real-world problem solvers, that knowledge is then shared and creates a ripple affect across communities. Kids can teach their parents, their grandparents and their peers.  As a former school leader myself, I know the pressures that schools face. Solar for Schools takes some of that pressure off schools. We help them save money, reduce their carbon – and then savings made can be diverted across vital gaps in school budgets. It really is a win-win.

We hope to find more champions within councils that can lead the way as Ceri has” 

If you're inspired by Ceri's championing role - perhaps you'd like to drive the impact in your area too - here are a couple of ways you can get involved and start to make a real difference....

1) If you know a school in your area that would like to get solar click here:

2) If you know a school that already has solar but would like would also like hands-on education from Solar for Schools, click below to start the process: