The key objectives of the Solar Options for Schools Ltd project are:

* To develop and test an innovative Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) learning mobile App, which will be using geo-functions on mobile phones to provide contextual/experiential learning, to encourage pupils to take learning 'journeys' about energy and sustainability and ultimately inspire a solar project at their school. This will deliver the Learn-Act-Share, place- and project-based ESD experience that does not exist in a digital form.
* To assess the extent to which use of the App can change behaviours to lower carbon emissions.
* To assess the extent to which our solar project development costs are reduced due to the App empowering students to take the first steps in developing a solar project, resulting in solar power becoming more accessible to schools, even those in the north where light levels are less than in the south.

Solar Options for Schools Ltd will create and test a prototype of the App that is innovative by making ESD learning personalised, contextualised and digitised. Through its ability to deliver ESD, the App which will be on a mobile (rather than learning delivered by a computer or tablet) will give more disadvantaged children equal-access learning and skills and could help quicken the transition to a net zero carbon society by continuing to educate and inspire the next generation to live more sustainably at a time when face-to-face ESD is not possible.

If ESD learning falters due to the pandemic, the education of many young people may also falter and decarbonisation will become even more difficult; another generation will not learn skills aimed at sustainable cohabitation. Transitioning to a net zero carbon society will take even longer. This experimental development project introduces a completely new approach to ESD, while responding to the limitations (and opportunities) that the COVID-19 pandemic has presented.