Munday & Cramer led this Solar PV project from carrying out an initial assessment of the school, securing £90,000 in GLA funding to managing the full design and procurement process, and monitoring system performance post-installation. Hunters Hall Primary School in Dagenham is now generating its own clean electricity, thanks to a 125 kWp solar panel system and 60 kWh battery storage unit installed across its pitched roofs.

The Challenge

Hunters Hall Primary School in the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham, was drawing all of its electricity from the national grid at an annual cost of over £42,000. With a DEC rating of D and limited budget for capital investment, the school had long wanted to explore renewable energy but required funding and technical expertise to make it happen.

Our Approach

Munday & Cramer’s estates team worked closely with London Borough of Barking & Dagenham to develop a fully costed proposal for the GLA Greener Schools Pilot funding round. Our work covered every stage of the project:

• Roof inspections including a drone survey and feasibility assessment
• System design and shading analysis using site-specific irradiation data
• Full funding application to the Greater London Authority (GLA)
• Ongoing monitoring of system performance and battery optimisation

The Solution

The system comprises 205 panels paired with SolarEdge Technologies inverters and a 60 kWh battery storage unit. Panels were installed on the school’s pitched roofs, with the layout optimised to minimise shading losses and maximise annual generation.

The battery is configured through M&C’s optimisation strategy. Rather than storing whatever solar power is left over, M&C configured the battery to work around the clock. It charges up overnight using cheaper off-peak electricity, then discharges it in the early morning to cover the school’s baseline demand. When solar generation peaks around midday, the battery steps back and stores the surplus instead. By mid-afternoon, as the panels start to get less sunlight, it discharges again to keep the school running on clean energy for as long as possible. The result is a system that saves money and cuts emissions all year round.

The Results

Since installation in autumn 2025, the system has already delivered measurable results:

• Over 5,000 kg of CO₂ saved since September 2025.
• £4,709 in total financial benefits realised to date (Nov 2025 – Jan 2026)
• Predicted annual financial benefit of £18,500, including approximately £2,000 from battery storage alone
• Annual CO₂ reduction of 23,000 kg — replacing 37% of the school’s grid electricity
• Simple payback period of 7 years on the total project investment of £125,350
• Estimated lifetime financial benefit of over £450,000 over the 25+ year design life of the system

GLA Funding

M&C successfully secured £90,000 from the GLA Greener Schools Pilot on behalf of the school. The remaining £35,250 was covered by an interest-free energy loan arranged by the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham. The school contributed no upfront capital, making this a genuinely accessible route to decarbonisation for a maintained primary school.

Beyond the energy savings, the school is using the installation to bring renewable energy into their classrooms. Pupils are learning about solar technology, energy costs, and environmental impact as part of the school’s existing Eco School programme.