Canford School

Key stats (3 installations)

  • Sector: Education
  • Total installation size:  322.77 kWp
  • Total annual generation: 322 MWh
  • Total annual savings: Expected £96,593
  • Total annual CO2 reduction: 179 tonnes
Aerial view of a rural area with a large building complex surrounded by trees, open fields, and a church visible in the background under a cloudy sky.

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The challenge: A leading independent school on a mission to decarbonise

Canford School is a leading independent boarding school set in 260 acres of beautiful parkland, including a nationally recognised arboretum. With buildings dating back as far as the 1400s, and as modern as 2025 – the school integrates its history with cutting edge sustainable technology.

It was the 2021 energy crisis that prompted the school to really start considering how to reduce its reliance on expensive, unstable and polluting fossil fuels: with reliable, proven solutions like solar panels being high on their agenda. Expectations from pupils, parents and governors also played into the growing desire to cut carbon and costs, fast.

The school needed a partner with experience installing solar in live school environments, where safety, scheduling, and communication are key. Good Energy was chosen after a competitive tender for our transparent pricing, clear proposal, and understanding of the site’s unique challenges, including Grade I and II listed buildings. Our strong track record installing solar for schools was also a deciding factor.

“At Canford School, we have a responsibility to reduce environmental impact, set a positive example for pupils, and protect the school’s unique parkland setting for years to come. Solar panels offer a practical way to do this, and I felt confident that Good Energy could deliver what we wanted.”

Toby White, Maintenance Manager at Canford School

The Solution: A proven technology delivering exactly as predicted

In 2024, Good Energy installed three SolarEdge-optimised rooftop solar PV systems at Canford School across the following buildings:

🟡 Boarding House – 37.41 kWp
🟡 Education Centre – 43.5 kWp
🟡 Sports Centre – 241.86 kWp

The systems use Jinko solar panels with SolarEdge optimisers and inverters, offering a cost-effective combination of high efficiency, longevity and powerful performance data. Design and layout were tailored to each building, with careful consideration given to heritage constraints and roofspace availability.

Good Energy carefully scheduled the work to minimise any impact on the school’s operations and the pupil experience. The installations on the Boarding House and Education Centre were both completed during the school summer holidays, with the larger installation at the Sports Centre taking place through the start of the Autumn term. The team ran to a tight schedule; and stayed in constant communication with the school to minimise noise and ensure safety throughout.  

One year on, the solar arrays are delivering exactly as projected in Canford School’s proposal – supporting the school’s sustainability goals, while maintaining its tradition.

“One year on the solar panels have performed exactly as expected – delivering energy savings and, according to our data, significantly reducing our reliance on imported electricity. We’re actively exploring a further six solar projects across the site as part of our wider commitment to reducing carbon emissions and embracing low-carbon technologies.”

Toby White, Maintenance Manager at Canford School

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Aerial view of a rural area with a large building complex surrounded by trees, open fields, and a church visible in the background under a cloudy sky.
Aerial view of a property with several buildings surrounded by dense trees and open fields under a cloudy sky.
A man with grey hair and a beard smiles whilst gesturing outdoors, with trees and part of a building visible in the background.
Aerial view of a large historic building surrounded by trees, with a formal garden and a residential area in the background.
Aerial view of a building complex with solar panels on the roofs, surrounded by trees, parking areas, and a sports pitch.
Aerial view of a large historic building surrounded by trees and gardens, with open fields and a car park in the foreground, under an overcast sky.
A man wearing a light blue shirt and a lanyard stands indoors under a chandelier, with ornate woodwork visible in the background.
Aerial view of a large estate surrounded by trees, open fields, and several large buildings under a cloudy sky.
Aerial view of a large historic building surrounded by trees and fields, with a town and rolling hills visible in the background under a cloudy sky.
A man in a light blue shirt and beige trousers walks alone on a wide gravel path beside a stone balustrade, with trees and a construction crane in the background.
Aerial view of a school building with solar panels on the roof, adjacent sports court, and parked cars on the right-hand side.
Aerial view of a school campus with multiple brick buildings, sports fields, a hockey pitch, parking area, and surrounding trees.
A man with a lanyard sits at a desk, smiling whilst working on a computer in an office with a landscape photo on the wall.
A man wearing a blue shirt and a lanyard smiles whilst standing indoors near an ornate wooden cupboard, with another person blurred in the background.
Aerial view of a large building with solar panels on the roof, surrounded by trees, car parks, and nearby residential buildings in a rural area.
A man with fair hair and a beard, wearing a light blue shirt, sits indoors on a chair, smiling. Large windows with trees outside are in the background.
Aerial view of a rural area with a large building complex surrounded by trees, open fields, and a church visible in the background under a cloudy sky.
Aerial view of a property with several buildings surrounded by dense trees and open fields under a cloudy sky.
A man with grey hair and a beard smiles whilst gesturing outdoors, with trees and part of a building visible in the background.
Aerial view of a large historic building surrounded by trees, with a formal garden and a residential area in the background.
Aerial view of a building complex with solar panels on the roofs, surrounded by trees, parking areas, and a sports pitch.
Aerial view of a large historic building surrounded by trees and gardens, with open fields and a car park in the foreground, under an overcast sky.
A man wearing a light blue shirt and a lanyard stands indoors under a chandelier, with ornate woodwork visible in the background.
Aerial view of a large estate surrounded by trees, open fields, and several large buildings under a cloudy sky.
Aerial view of a large historic building surrounded by trees and fields, with a town and rolling hills visible in the background under a cloudy sky.
A man in a light blue shirt and beige trousers walks alone on a wide gravel path beside a stone balustrade, with trees and a construction crane in the background.
Aerial view of a school building with solar panels on the roof, adjacent sports court, and parked cars on the right-hand side.
Aerial view of a school campus with multiple brick buildings, sports fields, a hockey pitch, parking area, and surrounding trees.
A man with a lanyard sits at a desk, smiling whilst working on a computer in an office with a landscape photo on the wall.
A man wearing a blue shirt and a lanyard smiles whilst standing indoors near an ornate wooden cupboard, with another person blurred in the background.
Aerial view of a large building with solar panels on the roof, surrounded by trees, car parks, and nearby residential buildings in a rural area.
A man with fair hair and a beard, wearing a light blue shirt, sits indoors on a chair, smiling. Large windows with trees outside are in the background.

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