Bright outlook for impressive new Flintshire super school powered by the sun

The power of the sun is helping keep over 900 pupils of a £30 million new super school warm as toast as the first frosts of winter bite – and saving £10,000 a year on electricity bills.

North Wales ‘green’ energy specialists Hafod Renewables fitted 250 solar panels on the roof of the state-of-the-art school which accepted its first intake of students in September.

It’s a special contract for Hafod Managing Director David Jones, a former pupil of Holywell High School which the new school has replaced.

The Denbigh-based firm were called in to ensure the thoroughly modern school has a 21st century power supply which will help generate 70,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually, enough to run 14 houses.

David, who was brought up in Caerwys, said:

“It was very special going back to Holywell to help provide this fantastic new school for the town and the area.

“I enjoyed my time there and it enabled me to go on to become an electrician and gain a degree in Renewable Energy so it’s great to be able to pay something back as well as to be part of what is a wonderful development by Flintshire County Council.

The system will ensure that the new school generates up to 20 per cent of its energy through solar power, saving over £250,000 over the guaranteed 25-year lifespan of the panels and over 30 tons of carbon annually.

Hafod Renewables won the £130,000 contract to provide the solar energy element of the new school’s power system by main electrical contractors Walsh Integrated Building Services.

Hafod Renewables solar panels at the Holywell Superschool… Pictured are David and Richard Jones of Hafod renewables with Ysgol Maes Y Felin pupil Jessica Bailey on the roof along with (From Left) Ysgol Treffynnon Headteacher Mr John Weir with Cllr Peter Curtis FCC , Cllr Chris Bithell Executive member education and youth FCC, Head Teacher of Ysgol Maes Y Felin Pete Davies and pupil Alan Birch.

Flintshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Youth, Councillor Chris Bithell, a former teacher at Holywell High School, said:

“Our commitment to getting local contractors involved in the construction of the school proved very successful and that’s why these innovative solar panels have been installed by a local company.”

Solar power will feed into a generating room at the advanced new school which will have underfloor heating throughout the ground floor, including the 220-seat catering hall.

Elsewhere the school will boast a recording studio, soundproofed doors, and a social area as well as 14 en-suite classrooms, a library, and a large main hall.

The solar power is part of a sophisticated automatic climate control system which will switch on fans, open windows, and operate the air conditioning system.