Solar Thermal Trolley

All participating schools will receive a specially designed 'Solar Thermal Trolley' which can be used in a variety of lessons. The specially designed system is a safe and practical way for children to experience renewable energy in the classroom. It is designed so that teachers and support staff can easily move and set it up, with digital panels providing useful information such as the temperature of the heated water. The angle of the solar collector on the Trolley is adjustable and students are able to feel the temperature difference of the heated water through a tap connected to the water container.

Specially designed teaching resources are accessible through the accompanying CD-ROM, enabling teachers to incorporte the use of the Trolley into their school's scheme of work.

Image of the Solar Thermal Trolley

The functionality of the Solar Thermal Trolley has been developed by the Centre for Design Research at Northumbria University in partnership with Eaga Plc who have manufactured the trolley. Several representatives from schools and education centres across the North East have been involved in the development of the scheme and provided advice over the curriculum support materials and website for the project. These include teachers from Bydales Technology Centre in Marske-by-the-Sea, Macmillan Academy in Middlesbrough, and the Science Learning Centre in Durham.