A DORSET school is setting a shining example by installing solar panels.

The 20 photovoltaic (PV) panels, which cost £22,385, were being unveiled today at St Mary’s Primary School at Thorncombe, near Beaminster.

They have been installed on top of the main building to offset the energy use of its new extension in an initiative jointly financed by EDF Energy Green Fund, Dorset County Council, the Low Carbon Buildings Programme and school funds.

The 3.24kw panels will produce about 2,900kwh of electricity per year, saving the emission of 1.65 tonnes of carbon.

A panel inside the school will show live data revealing how much electricity has been generated by the panels and how much carbon dioxide is saved.

Headteacher Tanya Foinette said the panels have already prompted some interesting discussion.

She added: “We are keen for our pupils to experience and understand how we can care for our environment.

“Our pupils are very proud of being an eco-friendly school and are excited about the solar panels.

“They know it is a great way to make electricity without polluting the atmosphere.”

St Mary’s is already a Dorset eco-school with a silver award, helping its own pupils and youngsters from other schools learn about renewable energy.

Dorset County Council’s renewable energy technical officer Simon Taylor said: “This is another important renewable energy project for a public building in Dorset and will contribute to the council’s stretch target – to install 65 projects and 810kw of micro-generation between April 2006 and March 2009.”