Pupils across England are set to benefit from lower energy bills and more money for teaching resources, as Great British Energy has announced an expansion of its solar scheme.
More than 250 schools have now signed agreements to receive a share of up to £100 million in funding from Great British Energy and the UK Government for rooftop solar panels and other energy efficiency measures. Of those, 23 schools already have panels installed and are generating their own electricity, with savings being reinvested into school services.
Ministers argue the scheme will help shield schools from volatile energy markets by allowing them to generate clean, ‘homegrown’ power on site, with officials estimating that schools will collectively save millions of pounds over the lifetime of the installations, far more than the initial installation costs.
Michael Shanks, Energy Minister, noted, “Great British Energy is helping schools to save money on bills, meaning more money for textbooks and technology.
“Across the country, solar panels are going up on rooftops to power classrooms with clean, homegrown power.
“This is our clean energy superpower mission in action, protecting our public services with lower bills and energy security.”
The initiative forms part of a wider, expanded programme to fund solar installations not only on schools, but also on NHS and military sites, as the Government seeks to make public buildings more climate resilient and move towards net zero across the public estate. New schools are being built to be climate-resilient and net zero in operation under the School Rebuilding Programme.
Targeting schools most in need
The rollout will focus on schools and colleges with buildings suitable for solar panels in areas of England deemed most in need. The Government says sites have been selected primarily in areas of deprivation in the North East, West Midlands and North West, alongside at least 10 schools in each region of England.
Each region will also include a further education college, which will work with appointed contractors to promote careers in the renewables sector and support growth in both the construction and clean energy workforce. That could include work placements, skills bootcamps and workshops linked to the solar projects.
Great British Energy’s Chief Executive, Dan McGrail, commented, “Great British Energy’s ongoing solar rollout delivers tangible benefits to the people that need it most in our hospitals and schools.
“This not only provides clean energy to communities, it also ensures that the public own and benefit from these projects through energy security, good jobs and above all, real tangible local outcomes such as more funds to support teaching and health.”
Rocketing energy bills in recent years have eaten into school budgets, with the Government pointing to the UK’s exposure to global fossil fuel markets as a key driver of cost volatility. By generating more of their own electricity, ministers argue schools can reduce that exposure while cutting emissions.
Josh MacAlister, Education Minister, said, “Solar panels are slashing schools’ energy bills by thousands of pounds year after year, with the money going straight back into the textbooks and resources pupils need to succeed.
“This is part of our wider work to drive national renewal, rebuilding more than 750 schools in every corner of the country.”
Alongside the physical installations, the programme is being positioned as part of a broader push to embed climate and sustainability into education. The Government has committed to curriculum reforms across geography, science, citizenship, and design and technology – from Year 1 through to a new Natural History GCSE – with the aim of helping pupils understand environmental issues, take action on climate change and develop skills for a greener economy.
All nurseries, schools and colleges are also being asked to put in place a climate action plan, while ‘Youth Sustainability Champions’ will be encouraged to advise on, evaluate and champion local sustainability initiatives in education settings.
Trusts and school leaders already involved in the programme say the financial benefits are beginning to show. That includes Mark Greatrex, Chief Executive of the Bellevue Place Education Trust in London, who noted, “We are delighted to have Kilburn Grange School and Halley House School enrolled in the Great British Energy’s solar programme in addition to other Bellevue Place Education Trust schools. Last year, all our schools collectively achieved a 9.4% reduction in energy consumption, saving £299K in energy bills, which we can invest back into the education provision for our pupils.”
Nicola Malone, Head Teacher of Christ the King Roman Catholic Primary School in Salford, added, “We are very proud that Christ the King is benefitting from the Great British Energy Solar Partnership programme. The solar installation will make a lasting difference for our school, whilst showing our children the value of sustainability and emphasising our shared responsibility for the world around us.”
