Shrewsbury Town’s Greenhous Meadow could become one of the first grounds in the country to have solar panels fitted on the stadium roof.
The club and Shropshire Council are investigating the idea after it was first proposed by pupils at the town’s Priory School.
Club bosses and council officials are now taking the proposal seriously, and are working with pupils on ways to save energy, increase recycling, and reduce waste and water usage at the ground.
Teachers and pupils are approaching renewable energy firm Wind & Solar Systems Ltd (WSS) to discuss the feasibility of installing solar panels or wind turbines.
The science students will research and then pitch their best ideas to four managers at the football club in December with the aim that some will be put into action. Sheffield Wednesday recently signed a similar contract to have panels on their Hillsborough stadium.
Martin James, community development manager at Shrewsbury Town, said: “I know the students will come up with some interesting ideas and then we will explore the likelihood of taking some of them forward. Certainly as a football club we are looking to be as environmentally friendly as anyone else so we take it very seriously.”
Mike Marchant, spokesperson for WSS, said: “I’m perfectly sure the technical guys will be able to help the students out with their project – in particular what the cost of solar technology would be and the potential savings to be generated.”
By David Seadon