SCHOOLS across Worcestershire will be able to cut their energy bills after signing up to the Great British Energy solar panels scheme.
Six schools across the county are among 250 across England which will benefit from the funding by Great British Energy and the UK Government.
It will lead to millions of pounds worth of savings across the country which will then be able to be reinvested back into education.
Among the schools are Moons Moat First in Redditch, St George’s C of E School in Kidderminster and Wolverley CE Secondary School and Sixth Form.
There are also three in Worcester – Carnforth School, Honeywell Primrary and Hollymount School.
Pupils across the country will benefit from more cash for textbooks and teaching, as Great British Energy’s solar roll-out continues to help schools cut their energy bills.
It comes as part of an expanded scheme to fund solar panels for NHS sites, military sites and schools.
The schools involved will get a share of up to £100million in funding from Great British Energy and the government for the new solar panels and other energy efficiency measures.
A total of 23 schools have now installed Great British Energy solar panels and are cutting their energy bills.
This has allowed savings to be reinvested in school services as part of the government’s clean energy superpower mission, enabling communities to reap the benefits of homegrown, clean power.
This is part of the government’s drive to make all public buildings more climate resilient.
The government is building all new schools to be climate-resilient and net-zero in operation as part of the School Rebuilding Programme.
Rocketing energy bills in recent years have eaten into school budgets. This has been driven by the UK’s dependency on global fossil fuel markets over which government has no control.
By enabling schools to generate their own electricity, it is estimated schools will save millions, far more than installation costs.
Energy Minister Michael Shanks said: “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.”
Great British Energy’s CEO, Dan McGrail said: “Great British Energy’s ongoing solar roll-out 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.”
And Education Minister Josh MacAlister said: “This is part of our wider work to drive national renewal, rebuilding more than 750 schools in every corner of the country.”
The scheme will target schools and colleges with buildings that are able to accommodate solar panels in areas of England most in need.
As part of this, the government has selected schools that will be primarily clustered in areas of deprivation in the North East, West Midlands and North West, as well as at least 10 schools in each region of England.
Each region includes a further education college which will work with the contractors appointed to promote careers in renewables to support growth in the construction and renewables workforce.
This could be through work placements, skills boot camps and workshops.
This follows the government’s commitment to curriculum reforms which will strengthen climate and sustainability education across geography, science, citizenship, and design and technology – from year one through to a new Natural History GCSE.
This will help ensure pupils understand the planet, take action on climate change and develop the skills for a greener future.
Nurseries, schools and colleges are also being called upon to put in place a climate action plan, while empowering young voices through Youth Sustainability Champions to help advise, evaluate and champion sustainability in education.
