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Frequently Asked Questions

1. Benefits & Commercial Model

 WE Power designs, funds, installs and operates a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on your site. The system stores electricity when it’s cheapest (typically at night) and uses it when prices are highest. In return, you receive a contractually guaranteed 20% discount on your electricity costs for the full term of the agreement, with no upfront cost to the school.

Your school pays 20% less than the standard grid price you would otherwise pay for the electricity you consume through your meter, for the full contract term.

  • If, without WE Power, your bill for a month would have been £10,000, you only pay £8,000.

  • The discount is applied to whatever the prevailing tariff is at the time – not a fixed price based on today’s bills.

  • The saving moves with your usage: if your consumption rises or falls, your 20% saving rises or falls in proportion.

This is written into the contract so you have clear, predictable savings.

 Yes. Your 20% discount is guaranteed for the term of the agreement, regardless of:

  • Whether the BESS is temporarily offline for maintenance or repair

  • Whether wholesale energy prices rise or fall

  • How the wider market for energy storage evolves over time

WE Power takes on the technical and market risk. You continue to pay 20% less than the standard grid cost; if the system underperforms or market spreads narrow, that is our problem, not yours.

No. There is no capital expenditure (CAPEX) and no separate operating costs for the BESS. WE Power pays for:

  • All equipment and installation

  • All design, engineering and grid integration

  • All maintenance, monitoring and insurance

You simply benefit from the 20% discounted electricity.

Our standard partnership term is 10 years. This provides:

  • Substantial cumulative savings for your school

  • Enough time for WE Power to recover its investment

  • A period that aligns with typical school financial planning cycles

The system is designed to maintain performance for at least this period, with maintenance and component replacements included.

Towards the end of the contract, we agree the best option with you. Typically, you can:

  • Extend the partnership, potentially with upgraded equipment

  • Purchase the system at a fair market value

  • Have it removed at our cost, with the site made good

  • Upgrade to a new system under a fresh agreement

You’re not locked into a single path; we’ll review options with your leadership team well in advance.

You continue to pay your electricity supplier as normal, but at the reduced rate agreed under the Power Purchase structure. Behind the scenes:

  • WE Power funds and operates the BESS

  • You see lower energy costs on your bills

  • You receive transparent documentation showing your savings compared with standard grid rates

For your finance team, it looks like lower utility bills rather than a new line of expenditure.

2. Technology & Safety

A BESS is a large-scale, on-site battery system that:

  • Charges when electricity is cheap and plentiful

  • Discharges when electricity is expensive or in short supply

  • Provides resilience during grid disturbances or outages

You can think of it as a smart, automated power bank for your whole school campus.

Yes. Safety is built into every level of the system and our installation process. We use modern lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, which are more thermally stable than many older chemistries, and our installations include:

  • Advanced Battery Management Systems monitoring every cell

  • Thermal management and temperature control

  • Integrated fire detection and suppression systems

  • Automatic shutdown and isolation if any parameter moves outside safe limits

  • Secure enclosures with restricted access

All designs comply with relevant UK and international standards for electrical and fire safety.

Fire risk is rigorously managed by design:

  • Fire-rated, compartmentalised enclosures

  • Integrated detection and suppression systems

  • Cell-level and rack-level monitoring to prevent thermal runaway

  • Conservative siting, clearance and ventilation in line with UK guidance

On top of this, 24/7 remote monitoring allows us to detect and address anomalies long before they become issues.

Yes. Our design and installation process ensures safe siting, whether the unit is close to or set back from buildings. We:

  • Carry out a detailed on-site assessment

  • Agree the location with your facilities and health & safety teams

  • Liaise with Local Authorities and Fire Service as required

Where appropriate, the system can be screened with fencing or planting so it is discreet and unobtrusive.

The systems are designed to pose no day-to-day risk to pupils or staff:

  • All equipment is housed in locked, secure enclosures

  • Located away from high-traffic student areas

  • Access is restricted to authorised engineers

  • Systems are constantly monitored and regularly inspected

In risk terms, a BESS is similar to other electrical infrastructure you already have on site, such as transformers and switchgear – but with modern monitoring and control.

The BESS includes cooling systems, so the equipment generates some localised heat, all contained within the enclosure. Externally:

  • Noise levels are typically comparable to an air-conditioning unit

  • We design siting and acoustic treatment to avoid disturbance to classrooms, neighbours or exam areas

During our survey, we identify any sensitive locations and plan accordingly.

Yes, always. The BESS works alongside your existing grid connection. It:

  • Charges from the grid (and/or from your on-site renewables)

  • Supports your site during peak times

  • Provides resilience if the grid is unstable

If the BESS is ever out of service, you simply continue using grid power as normal.

3. Planning, Size & Installation

In many cases, a BESS installation will require a straightforward planning consent or prior approval, especially for outdoor units. The exact requirement depends on:

  • Size and location of the equipment

  • Whether your site has heritage status or special constraints

  • Local planning policies

WE Power will support you through this process, including drawings and technical information for the planning authority. We ensure this is addressed early so it doesn’t delay your project.

For a typical school installation, the main equipment will usually fit into an area roughly the size of two car parking bays.

For example, a system with 2 power conversion units (PCS) and 4 battery cabinets typically needs about 6m x 3m of level concrete area. Exact dimensions depend on your required capacity, but:

  • Equipment sits on low plinths or blocks (around 200mm high)

  • Each battery cabinet weighs roughly a few tonnes and must be placed on solid foundations

  • The area can be fenced and/or screened with hedging to minimise visual impact

We confirm the precise footprint during the site survey.

We usually look for:

  • A secure, accessible area near your plant room or main switchroom

  • Good cable routing options to the main distribution board

  • Minimal visual and acoustic impact on teaching and boarding areas

We work with your estates/facilities team to agree a location that balances technical efficiency, safety, planning and aesthetics.

We prefer to keep cable runs as short as practical to minimise losses and cost – for example, the other side of the wall from your plant room. Where longer distances are unavoidable, we simply:

  • Increase cable sizes appropriately

  • Factor this into the design and commercial model

All of this is handled within our turnkey solution; you do not need to manage the technical details.

  • If you have one main DNO connection (one “edge” meter) feeding multiple internal meters and buildings, we only need to connect at that main meter point. Internal meters do not affect the BESS design.

  • If you have multiple DNO connections across different parts of your estate, then separate BESS units may be required for each connection.

We already operate in complex sites with many buildings, meters and substations and will map your setup during the survey.

We plan installations specifically to avoid disruption:

  • Major works are scheduled in school holidays where possible

  • Any short power interruptions for final electrical connections are timed for periods when the school is closed

  • Work areas are segregated, with appropriate safety barriers and signage

  • We coordinate closely with your team around exams, events and term dates

In most cases, staff and pupils simply return after the holidays to find the system installed and operational.

  • During installation: brief, planned interruptions may be required for final connections, but these are scheduled when buildings are unoccupied.

  • During operation: the BESS switches seamlessly between grid and battery power in the background. Your lights, IT systems and equipment continue to run normally.

If the system ever needs to shut down, your supply simply continues from the grid in the usual way.

4. Reliability, Maintenance & Lifespan

Modern LFP battery systems are typically designed for 10–15 years of commercial operation, depending on usage patterns. Our standard 10-year contract:

  • Includes all maintenance, monitoring and performance management

  • Allows for component replacement or augmentation if required

  • Ensures the system continues to operate within agreed performance parameters throughout the term

You are not exposed to degradation risk – that is managed by WE Power.

If there is an issue:

  1. Our 24/7 monitoring system flags it immediately.

  2. The system automatically reverts to normal grid operation so your site remains fully powered.

  3. WE Power arranges repair or replacement of the affected equipment at our cost, not yours.

Your 20% discount continues to apply. The school does not bear financial or technical risk if the system has a fault.

WE Power is:

  • The owner of the equipment for the duration of the agreement

  • Responsible for all maintenance, inspections, repairs and software updates

  • Responsible for insurance on the BESS (equipment damage, liability cover, etc.)

Your existing school insurance arrangements typically remain unchanged, though we will provide documentation to your broker if needed.

  • 24/7 remote monitoring

  • Scheduled preventive maintenance

  • On-site response if issues are identified

  • Regular performance and savings reports

  • A dedicated account manager as a single point of contact

Your facilities team does not need to manage the system day to day; we simply keep them informed

Almost none. Your role is limited to:

  • Allowing access for our engineers at agreed times

     

  • Notifying us if you plan major electrical changes on site

     

Everything else – from firmware updates to component replacement – is handled by us.

5. Integration, Future-Proofing & Market Changes

Yes – BESS and solar are a natural fit. With a BESS you can:

  • Store excess daytime solar generation and use it later

  • Increase the proportion of your self-consumed solar energy

  • Improve resilience during grid outages (where the design allows islanding)

This can further reduce your carbon footprint and improve your financial returns.

Yes. We routinely integrate with:

  • Solar PV

  • Small wind turbines

  • CHP systems

  • Heat pumps and other electrified heating solutions

We carry out a full energy review and design the control strategy to make all your assets work together efficiently.

Yes. The BESS can support current and future EV charging by:

  • Providing capacity to avoid demand spikes

  • Allowing charging from cheaper off-peak energy and/or solar

  • Ensuring the 20% discount applies to the electricity used for vehicle charging through your meter

We can advise on charger sizing, locations and integration, and coordinate with your chosen installer.

No. While the revenue streams that WE Power uses to make projects viable may evolve (for example, more income from grid balancing and flexibility services over time), your contract with us is simple:

  • You pay 20% less than standard grid rates for your electricity for the duration of the agreement

  • WE Power takes on the risk associated with wholesale prices and storage economics

As grid needs grow (electrification, AI, data centres, EVs etc.), storage remains a critical part of the system. But regardless of how the market develops, your school’s position is protected by the contractual discount.

6. ESG, Sustainability & Education

    • Environmental: Reduces your carbon footprint by optimising when and how you use electricity, enabling greater use of on-site renewables and reducing reliance on carbon-intensive peak power.
    • Social: Frees up budget through energy savings that can be redirected into teaching, bursaries, facilities and student welfare, while improving resilience for critical services.

       

    • Governance: Demonstrates responsible, forward-thinking management of energy, aligning with the expectations of governors, trusts, regulators and parents.

       

Yes – and we encourage it. We can provide:

  • Dashboards showing real-time energy flows and storage levels

  • Historical data for student projects in STEM and geography

  • Context around climate, grid stability and energy markets

Many schools use their BESS as a tangible example of climate action and innovation for open days, marketing and classroom activities.

What carbon reduction can we expect?

The exact reduction depends on your current tariff, grid mix and any on-site renewables. Typically, schools see:

  • A significant reduction in scope 2 emissions (purchased electricity)

     

  • Additional benefits where diesel generators or inefficient backup systems are displaced

     

We provide a tailored estimate for your school as part of our proposal, including projected annual CO₂ savings.

7. Process, Governance & Next Steps

  1. Initial conversation (around 15 minutes) to understand your site and needs.
  2. Data collection – recent energy bills and basic site information.
  3. Site survey and technical assessment.
  4. Proposal setting out savings, system design and commercial terms.
  5. Governors’/trust approval and contract finalisation.
  6. Planning and grid approvals, where required.
  7. Installation and commissioning, typically in school holidays.

From initial discussion to go-live is usually a matter of a few months, much of which is planning rather than on-site work.

  • 12–24 months of electricity bills (kWh and £)

  • Basic site and electrical drawings (if available)

  • Details of existing generation (solar, CHP, etc.)

  • Contact details for your estates/facilities and finance leads

We guide you through this and keep the process as light-touch as possible.

Yes. Our model is suitable for:

  • Independent schools and boarding schools

  • State schools and academies

  • Multi-academy trusts and groups, where we can explore portfolio-wide solutions

We can structure agreements at individual school or trust level, depending on your governance structure.

We are currently delivering our first wave of installations for UK schools and educational institutions. As systems go live, we will:

  • Share case studies

  • Create a network of reference sites

  • Arrange visits where appropriate

In the meantime, we can arrange visits to comparable commercial/industrial BESS sites so that you can see the technology in operation, like one of our projects above.

We’re happy to discuss any site-specific queries or technical details with your bursar, finance team, estates manager or governors.

✉️ Contact:
 Peter Lam, Director – WE Power
 peter.lam@we-energy.net
 +44 7970 246 451

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