PR Scotland gets on renewable energy

The solar panel construction at Edinburgh College lands a splash in the headlines of The Edinburgh Reporter. 

Designed and installed by energy company SSE, the innovative £1.2m construction project has around 2,560 solar panels installed on the site.

Not only will the stunning construction generate the equivalent of the energy the campus requires to meet its electricity needs, but it will also be used as a research centre by the Edinburgh College‘s students.

Helping to reduce the campus’ carbon emissions by 300,000kg per annum, the site will be surrounded with biodiversity grasses and wildflowers. This will lead to an interesting research project which will analyse the interaction between biodiversity and solar technology.

Edinburgh Napier University is supporting the project with a research assistant, who will work with staff and students from Edinburgh College. Therefore engineering students will have the opportunity to enhance their studies and develop key skills.

Professor Steve Tinsley, Vice Principal, Corporate Development at Edinburgh College, is leading the Solar Meadow project. He said:-“It’s great to witness the culmination of such an exciting project which has created this unique solar power site at Edinburgh College.

“The Solar Meadow is the first teaching facility of its kind in Scotland that will help not only to provide the next generation of engineers with essential skills, but also allow the college to become less reliant on fossil fuel energy.

Richard Chandler, SSE’s Head of Green Deal and Energy Solutions, added:- “The Solar Meadow will not only generate around 560,000 kW hrs every year – enough energy to power 170 homes – but is also a fine example of how industry and education can work well together. This project will bring benefits to the college, its students and the wider community as well as further strengthening Scotland’s renewable energy resources.”

The full coverage can be read on The Edinburgh Reporter and was secured on behalf of Edinburgh College as part of a public relations campaign carried out by Holyrood PR.