Walsall Academy – Solar Rooftop & Canopy

The client

Located in Bloxwich, Walsall Academy is a secondary school and sixth form educating approximately 1,500 students. As part of the Thomas Telford Multi Academy Trust, the school was looking for ways to reduce its energy consumption and take meaningful steps towards its net zero ambitions.

With an existing car park offering an opportunity to make better use of available space, the academy was ideally positioned to explore solar energy. A solar canopy offered a practical solution, allowing the school to generate renewable electricity while making its parking facilities work harder.

The solution

Kembla installed a 564.3 kWp Solar PV system, incorporating a solar canopy over the car park to turn underused space into a valuable source of renewable energy.

The installation features 1,254 LONGi 450W solar panels mounted using a SIG canopy system, supported by SolarEdge inverters, optimisers and monitoring equipment.

By integrating solar generation into the existing parking area, the project maximises the potential of the school’s available space without requiring additional land dedicated solely to solar panels. The system provides a long-term solution to help reduce reliance on grid electricity and support the academy’s sustainability goals.

The impact

The solar installation is helping Walsall Academy make better use of its existing infrastructure while generating significant amounts of renewable electricity.

With an estimated annual generation of 537 MWh and a projected payback period of just 4–5 years, the project demonstrates the potential of solar canopies to deliver both environmental and financial benefits for schools.

Key benefits

• Make unused space work harder by transforming the existing car park into a solar energy asset.
• Reduce energy costs through on-site renewable electricity generation.
• Support net zero ambitions by reducing reliance on grid electricity.
• Deliver long-term value with an estimated payback period of 4–5 years.
• Create a more sustainable school environment while making practical use of existing infrastructure.

Project at a glance

• Installed capacity: 564.3 kWp
• Solar panels: 1,254 × LONGi 450W modules
• Inverters: 5 × 100 kW SolarEdge Synergy units
• Optimisers: 627 × SolarEdge S1000 optimisers
• Annual generation: 537 MWh
• Equivalent trees planted: 6,424 annually
• Estimated payback: 4–5 years

Turning car parks into clean energy assets

Walsall Academy demonstrates how solar canopies can help schools unlock the potential of existing space, combining renewable energy generation with practical infrastructure.

As part of our wider work with the Thomas Telford Multi Academy Trust, this project highlights how tailored solar solutions can help educational sites manage energy costs and progress towards their sustainability ambitions.