The project, which was installed over the summer, consists of 422 solar panels along the entire roof span of the school’s building. The panels will generate enough electricity to power a fifth of the Academy’s energy needs, saving 32 tonnes of CO2 per annum, equating to 1,511 trees being planted. The expected return on investment is four years.

Installation was conducted by Kembla Limited, experts in delivering renewable energy solutions and took a team of 10 people a month to complete.

Discussions began two years ago with input from the Academy’s student led sustainability group to explore ambitious ways to reduce the Academy’s overall impact on the planet’s resources. Green energy was top of the agenda with solar being the ideal source for the building and its location.

Cllr Wesley Harcourt, H&F Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Ecology, hailed it as a powerful example of local organisations taking climate action together. “Hammersmith Academy is showing just how effective solar panels can be in helping to cut energy costs and reduce our carbon footprint at the same time.”

Headteacher, Gary Kynaston said of the project, “Support has been unanimous for this project, from governors, staff and students, everyone was right behind it. We pride ourselves on our commitment to being as sustainable as possible and this is a big leap forward. Not only is it sustainable from a resource and carbon footprint perspective, but also economically. Schools have to balance their accounts and this project will help to further futureproof against any shocks to the energy market.”

Declan Adams, Managing Director of Kembla Limited, added, “The team at Hammersmith Academy were a pleasure to work with from the start, accommodating us at every step as we installed their 200kWp Solar PV System. Having previously been awarded Sustainable School of the Year, this is further proof of Hammersmith Academy’s commitment to achieving Net Zero. I look forward to seeing how they now push for further milestones in the fight against climate change.”

The Academy has an established history of environmental stewardship having won Global Action Plan’s Sustainable School of the Year Award 2021 and the Mayor of London’s Climate Kick-Start Prize 2021.