Our first owned solar PV system in Islington

We’re delighted to let you know that we’ve just finalised the legal agreements with St Mark’s, CoE Primary School and the London Diocesan Board for Schools for our first Power Up North London-owned solar PV system in Islington.

How it all started

What started as a desktop analysis of solar potential in 2023, is now a fully-fledged solar project with financial backing from the Islington Community Energy Fund and the GLA‘s London Community Energy Fund (LCEF8).

What’s in store

The plan is to install a c 84 kWp solar PV system with a 48 kWh battery, significantly reducing the school’s energy bills and carbon emissions, while improving resilience and supporting future low-carbon heating solutions.

Why it’s important

St Mark’s CoE Primary School lies between Archway and Finsbury Park. Over 57% of pupils are eligible for free school meals. Installing solar will deliver direct financial savings which can be ploughed back into the school. 

The team at St Mark’s plans to bring the project to life for their pupils, with a real-world example of renewable energy—from installation through to daily use—supporting science, climate education and wider learning.  

What’s involved

Getting to this stage has been no mean feat and involved multiple parties. A big thank you to our pro bono partners AHMM Architects, Buro Happold and lawyers Charles Russell Speechlys and to the school’s governors Robin and James. And huge congratulations to Tanuja for securing the funding and navigating all the twists and turns.

Next steps

The next step is installation by Joju Solar over the school holidays which our core team and our Associates, John Ackers and Fred Wickham are supporting. We will be back in touch with more news once the array is in place.