IT'S solar' so good for Our Lady of Lourdes primary school in Bury which is set to become a leading light on the issue of renewable energy.

And there was certainly a charged atmosphere at the Rudgwick Drive school on Tuesday when pupils officially switched on their £20,000 solar panels installed with funding from the Co-operative Group.

The company's colourful climate change character, Sunny Solar, helped launch the rooftop panels, which are half funded by the group's £1 million Green Energy for Schools scheme with match-funding from the government's Low Carbon Building Programme (LCBP).

Our Lady of Lourdes primary is among 100 schools across the UK successfully nominated by Co-operative staff and members to receive the solar panels.

Eileen Gaffney, manager of the Co-operative food store in Ainsworth Road, Bury, said: "This clean, silent technology will help educate Our Lady of Lourdes primary school pupils about the measures we can take to help combat climate change as well as reducing the school's reliance on fossil fuels.

"We hope the switch-on of these rooftop solar panels will give the whole community a jolt about tackling climate change."

Our Lady of Lourdes and other schools were nominated for the project by Co-operative staff and members together with SolarCentury, which assessed the suitability of their premises for the panels.

The 24 photovoltaic panels should generate around 3,300 kWh of electricity each year - enough to power a school computer for 33,000 hours or to make 180,000 cups of tea for thirsty teachers - saving around two tonnes of carbon dioxide.

Pupils can keep track of how much renewable energy the panels are generating and the amount of carbon dioxide they have saved to date by checking a monitor in the school building.

Simon Williams, the Co-operative's director of social goals, said: "As a community retailer with a long track record in using renewable energy, it is appropriate that we are now drawing on our own expertise and funding to help this local school cut its carbon dioxide emissions.

"By switching on these solar panels, Our Lady of Lourdes primary school is teaching the next generation about climate change, while setting an excellent example."

Pupils and staff have warmly welcomed their new rooftop solar panels.

Headteacher Donna Kiernan said: "We are very proud to be chosen by The Co-operative for this important initiative.

"We are already working hard to reduce the school's carbon footprint with a raft of green initiatives and switching on these rooftop solar panels will instantly boost our efforts while sending out a strong message about our commitment to helping the environment."

Pupil Dominic Dilger (8) added: "Now we have these solar panels our school can really be a green school and teach others how important taking care of the environment is."