Mabe School is one step closer to being able to install a solar roof this summer after a local solar farm developer has stepped in to help.

Pupils and staff of Mabe School have raised nearly £11,000 to install solar panels on the school roof. This is part of the Solar Schools project, a UK-wide initiative to put clean energy on the roofs of classrooms across the country. The solar panels will reduce the school’s carbon emissions and cut its energy bills, saving money to reinvest in children’s learning.

RES, the renewable energy company developing and constructing its Four Burrows Solar Farm adjacent to the |RES-operated Four Burrows Wind Farm near Truro, has supported the renewable energy project with a £1,000 donation.

Jo Clarkson, governor of Mabe School, said: “We are delighted to receive such a generous donation from RES, it has made a huge difference to our ongoing efforts to install solar power at Mabe School.

We have been amazed at all the fantastic support we have received from our parents and our community which has brought us so close to meeting our target. Along with extremely generous business donations, we have seen impressive fundraising events including pub quizzes, sponsored walks and even sponsored sky dives.

“We now need to raise just another £1,420 by the end of July and we will achieve our mission to install our solar panels on the school roof in the summer holidays. If there are any community minded – businesses out there who would like to help us in this last push to reach our target do contact Mabe School or visit the solar schools website; myself and everyone from Mabe School will be forever grateful!”

Sam Mayes from RES’ Community Relations team said “We were very happy to hear of Mabe School’s initiative. Solar power has an important role to play in providing clean energy to the UK and it is exciting to think that the school will soon be generating its own solar energy. This is a fantastic cause and we are delighted to support it.”

The school is now looking for other businesses that can help by sponsoring |the final few panels. There is a |dedicated fundraising page at www.solarschools.org.uk/mabe where potential donors can pledge support in £5 increments by clicking on individual solar panel grids.