Aberdeen Science Centre has been awarded more than £37,000 in funding to install rooftop solar panels, which will see the centre benefit from improved energy efficiency and a reduction in its energy bills. 

A total of 48 solar panels, which have been donated to Aberdeen Science Centre, are set to be fitted to the centre’s roof shortly. The donation was facilitated by global renewable energy producer Sonnedix.

Responsible finance provider Social Investment Scotland (SIS) awarded the centre just over £27,000 in grant and loan funding to support the installation of the panels, while Sonnedix donated a further £10,000.

G & A Barnie Group, a Scottish engineering firm, has also agreed to install the panels at a reduced rate. 

The solar panels are expected to generate close to 20,000 kilowatt-hours (kwh) of electricity per year, contributing to a significant reduction in Aberdeen Science Centre’s carbon emissions and a notable saving in its energy costs.

Bryan Snelling, chief executive officer at Aberdeen Science Centre, said:
“At Aberdeen Science Centre, we pride ourselves on helping our visitors to discover more about the science behind renewable energy, and thanks to the generous support of Social Investment Scotland, Sonnedix and G & A Barnie Group, we can now truly make use of that science to power our centre. 

“With close to 50 solar panels set to be installed on our centre’s roof, we are proud to be making our operations greener and doing our bit to reduce Aberdeen’s carbon footprint. The money saved on our bills can also be reinvested into our centre and into further developing our public offering of exhibits, workshops, and community projects.”

On the support from Sonnedix towards the project, Dijana Vlaisavljevic, head of ESG at Sonnedix, said:
“Decarbonising communities and making a meaningful social impact is at the heart of what we do, and supporting the Aberdeen Science Centre is testament to this commitment. Increasing educational initiatives related to renewable energy and climate change has been a longtime priority for us, and we are excited about extending these efforts to Scotland and contributing to its net zero journey.”

SIS offers a number of funding options to help diversify Scotland’s economy away from carbon-intensive industries, ensuring the creation of good, green jobs and ensuring all communities directly benefit and contribute to a sustainable and just transition to net zero. 

Chris Jamieson, head of investments at SIS, said:
“Supporting the third sector to reach net zero will ultimately help towards Scotland’s overall ambition for a green, fair energy transition by 2045. Access to financial support is essential for social enterprises to invest in improvements and new infrastructure, such as solar energy, and we look forward to hearing about the difference it makes for Aberdeen Science Centre.” 

Based on Constitution Street near Aberdeen beach, ASC is home to almost 65 interactive exhibits, allowing people of all ages to discover topics including Space, Energy, Life Sciences, Engineering, and much more. 

Open seven days a week, Aberdeen Science Centre also offers exclusive venue hire as well as room hire for corporate, social and private events.

KeyFacts Energy Industry Directory: Aberdeen Science Centre