Hundreds more schools to save on bills as Government solar drive slashes millions off energy costs

Schools and colleges across England are set to save an estimated £220 million on energy bills over the lifetime of the solar panels through the Government’s solar panels programme – and hundreds more are joining, as the Department for Education today (Thursday 16 July) announces the next wave of the rollout.

245 schools and colleges already have Government-funded solar panels, slashing their bills and freeing up cash for pupils. Now, 100 more will join the Great British Energy Solar Partnership, backed by up to £40 million from Government.

A further 150 schools and colleges across Yorkshire & Humber, the East Midlands and the South East will pilot a new model, with the private sector installing and maintaining high quality panels at no upfront cost.

The pilot is expected to help every school and college be able to access private-funded solar installed from next year.

This builds on the Government’s wider support to help schools manage their energy costs, giving them greater certainty over their bills and helping protect budgets that can be spent on pupils.

Secondary schools who have had solar panels installed, and their lights upgraded to LED lighting, are saving £58,600 a year, and primaries £21,000 – cash going straight back into teaching and clean, home-grown power for the classroom.

Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, said:

“Every pound a school saves on its energy bills is a pound that can be spent where it matters most – helping children achieve and thrive.

“These figures show our solar programme is already saving schools millions of pounds every year, with some secondary schools saving almost £60,000 annually.

“We’re going further – expanding this programme so hundreds more schools and colleges can cut their bills and put that money straight back into the classroom.”

Under the new private sector solar pilot, schools, colleges and Government won’t pay a penny upfront. Private investment will be subject to quality checks and will then fund, install, own and maintain the panels, and schools will simply buy the electricity generated at a rate significantly cheaper than their normal tariff.

The pilot will inform a national rollout from 2027-28, with the ambition that every school and college in England will eventually be able to access solar.

gov.uk