EDF Energy to Fund UK Wind-Powered School

EDF Energy, the UK arm of Electricite de France, has given an infant school in Crowborough, East Sussex a grant of GBP12,000 to help the site achieve its aim of becoming the first wind-powered school in the East Sussex area.

The grant, which came from EDF Energy’s ‘green fund,’ will be used to build a wind turbine that will generate electricity for the school. EDF Energy revealed that match funding has been secured from the Energy Saving Trust to meet the GBP24,000 cost of the project.

The proposed 12m high turbine could generate up to 19% of the electricity that the school uses, with a surplus in holiday times which would be sold back to the national grid to power local homes, EDF Energy revealed. Wind power would reduce the school’s carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 11 tonnes each year, the equivalent to emissions produced by a London to Sydney return flight.

EDF Energy said that it would be the first wind turbine to be erected in the district, and that it would be linked up to a wireless display panel that would show in real time how much electricity is being generated and how much carbon dioxide has been saved.

Peter Hofman, EDF Energy’s director of sustainable future, said: “Schools are vital in shaping the thinking and behavior of the next generation and these young people have their whole lives ahead of them as energy consumers.”

Mr Hofman added: “School buildings also account for a considerable amount of power use and this equipment will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions while bringing lessons on climate change to life. In time, thousands of children will learn about renewable energy in their schools and directly contribute to a more sustainable world.”

EDF Energy said that depending on planning permission from the local community and council, the turbine could be installed in the summer holidays of 2007.