£49,000
Saved per year
74
CO2 saved per year
Tonnes
402 kWp
System capacity
The Challenge
Bradford Grammar School, one of the UK's oldest and most respected independent schools, faces the same pressures confronting education institutions across the country; rising energy costs, ambitious net zero commitments, and the expectation from parents, governors, and staff that the school leads by example on sustainability.
With a large commercial roof and significant daytime electricity demand aligned closely with solar generation hours, the school represented an ideal candidate for a high-capacity solar PV installation. Eden Sustainable was appointed to design and deliver a system that would meaningfully reduce grid dependency, cut operational energy costs, and provide a quantifiable, reportable carbon saving, without disrupting the school's day-to-day activity.
The project also needed to navigate the specific logistical and planning considerations that come with installing a large-scale system on an active educational site.
The Solution
Eden Sustainable designed and installed a 402 kilowatt peak (kWp) solar photovoltaic system on the school's roof, one of the largest rooftop solar installations in the independent education sector in Yorkshire.
The system was subject to full structural and technical survey prior to design, with detailed generation modelling carried out to provide the school's leadership with accurate forecasts of energy output, financial savings, and carbon reduction. DNO application, structural assessment, and all regulatory compliance were managed entirely by the Eden Sustainable team.
Installation was carefully scheduled around the academic calendar to minimise any impact on lessons, staff, and students. Every stage was completed safely, on time, and in accordance with all relevant UK electrical standards and building regulations.
The Outcome
The 402 kWp system is now generating clean, renewable electricity directly from Bradford Grammar School's roof throughout the year. The energy produced offsets grid consumption in real time, reducing the volume of electricity the school purchases commercially during peak generation periods.
The installation delivers an average annual saving of £48,971, a figure that will grow in real terms as grid electricity prices rise over the system's 25-year operational life. The projected cumulative financial benefit over that period exceeds £1.2 million, making this one of the most significant long-term capital investments the school has made in its estate.
On carbon, the numbers are equally compelling. The system displaces 74,320 kg of CO₂ from the grid every year, equivalent to taking approximately 40 petrol-powered cars off the road annually. This is a measurable, independently verifiable contribution to the school's sustainability commitments and directly supports reporting against net zero targets.
The Results
System capacity: 402 kWp — one of Yorkshire's largest rooftop solar installations in the independent education sector
Annual energy cost saving: £48,971 (average)
Annual CO₂ saving: 74,320 kg — equivalent to removing approximately 40 cars from the road each year
Projected lifetime financial benefit: In excess of £1.2 million over 25 years
Installation: Scheduled around the academic calendar with minimal disruption to school operations
Compliance: Full UK electrical standards, DNO approval, and building regulation compliance throughout