- System size
- 200-600 kW
- Capex
- £180k-£540k
- Modelled payback
- 6.0 yrs
- G99 timeline
- Ask ENW
Why general FE colleges solar works on Electricity North West
General FE colleges in the Electricity North West territory share three structural advantages for solar PV programmes:
- Sub-vertical fit. General FE colleges have large mixed-use estates (8,000-30,000 sqm typical) with workshops, teaching blocks, sports halls and refectories — strong PV-friendly roof area and good self-consumption from year-round adult and apprentice cohorts.
- DNO characteristics. Electricity North West covers the North West of England. Check its published connection guidance and network capacity information before sizing the array; constraints vary by substation.
- Funding routes to check. Status verified 20 October 2026: Salix has no scheme open for England, the Scottish and Welsh Salix loans are open, and PSDS Phase 4 is closed to new applications. Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region and Lancashire authorities may run decarbonisation programmes; check each authority current programme.
Colleges in the Electricity North West territory
For orientation only, these general FE colleges sit in the ENW territory. This is not a list of clients or completed projects:
- LTE Group (Manchester College)
- Trafford College Group
- Salford City College
- Reaseheath College
- Myerscough College
G99 connection planning
For general FE colleges on ENW, installs in the 200-600 kW band need a G99 application and DNO approval before connection. Ask ENW for its current published timescales and plan the application early: the DNO process is usually the critical-path item.
Detailed regional DNO guide: Electricity North West G99 connections for college solar.
Funding stack for general FE colleges on ENW
- Salix funding — no scheme open for England (20 October 2026); Scottish and Welsh loans open
- PSDS Phase 4 — closed to new applications in November 2024
- FE Capital Transformation Fund — embedded sustainability inside major refurb
- T-Level Capital — for new workshop builds with embedded solar
- MCA decarbonisation grants where applicable to specific campuses