A Scottish college which is at the forefront of developing training opportunities in the burgeoning renewables industry has endorsed its eco-credentials by revealing plans to install Scotland’s largest solar roof.

Edinburgh’s Telford College is to fit up to 650 solar roof panels and introduce a range of other novel low carbon technologies on its West Granton Road main campus over a phased programme - which will generate enough energy to allow it to become self-sufficient in power and to showcase it as a UK role model for an energy - efficient building.

The project will mean the college can significantly reduce its power bills and will be able to sell surplus electricity to the National Grid, allowing it to reduce its reliance on government funding.

Present and future students, as well as architects, designer and engineers, will also be able to gain unique ‘real environment’ training in renewable energy and in developing self-sufficient buildings.

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The Solar Roof Project has been researched and developed in partnership with Heriot-Watt University and iPower and is headed by John Laing, the college’s Business Senior Manager (Construction and Renewables).

Sundog Energy, the company behind the multi million pound solar roof at London’s King Cross Station, has been appointed to initiate the first phase, which will see the installation of the 200 plus solar panels generating 50 kw per hour in June.

Miles Dibsdall, OBE, Principal of Edinburgh’s Telford College said: “We have a strong commitment to developing and strengthening our green credentials and the installation of the solar panel roof, with the other technologies we are planning, is a major endorsement of this pledge.

“It will provide us with a ground-breaking, living and breathing renewable energy model that will allow both students and teaching staff to upskill their learning in this field.

“In addition, not only will it help us become greener in our energy practices and allow us to become a fore-runner in the UK for energy efficient buildings, but it will also work to help reduce our energy costs, making it a substantial, sustainable investment both environmentally and financially.”

The college has been actively working over the past few years to build upon its green credentials and this year launched the Edinburgh Renewable Energy Innovation Centre (ERIEC), which is the first of its kind dedicated to offering exclusive training and skills development for workers in the renewable and construction industries.

(GK)