As a prominent public body in the local area, Links Academy recognised its responsibility to contribute to a cleaner, greener future.

Links Academy identified that electric vehicle chargers and solar PV could play a fundamental role in supporting its decarbonisation efforts within the wider net zero journey.

Zenergi was engaged to design, tender and project manage the installation of electric vehicle charging points and solar PV across three of Links Academy’s schools – Hatfield, Woollam Crescent and Hixberry Lane.

From feasibility to implementation

Zenergi managed the end-to-end delivery of the EV charging points, from feasibility right through to implementation. Beginning with a detailed site survey, where the changing point locations were agreed, the specifications were designed.

The drawings showed proposed cable routes, ensuring that the connections into the existing electrical infrastructure were installed to British Standards. The team undertook load monitoring, analysing the existing electrical consumption to ensure the schools had the available electrical capacity for the charging points to be connected to the existing distribution boards and switchgear.

Zenergi ensured the systems were fully commissioned by the supplier, including the user App facility and demonstrations to the schools.

Zenergi’s solar PV feasibility assessment included the production of estimated system size, generated energy, installation costs, carbon savings, payback periods and lifetime carbon savings. We then designed, tendered and project managed the installation of the solar PV across the three sites.

Regular project meetings were facilitated by Zenergi between the schools and contractors during installation to ensure both projects remained on track and the health and safety requirements were all met.

Demonstrating commitment to decarbonisation targets

Links Academy is leading from the front in demonstrating its commitment to the ambitious and highly important decarbonisation targets set out by the government. In doing so, the trust is helping to improve the air quality its pupils are exposed to and supporting the local community, staff, governors and visitors by offering access to an electric vehicle charging facility.

The energy that the solar PV will generate will help protect budgets, future-proof the sites; offer security of supply by reducing reliance on the grid; and lower emissions in support of net zero ambitions.