What to know about the £200m funding for solar panels on schools and hospitals
Last month, the government announced £200 million funding will be made available, through Great British Energy, to install solar panels on schools and hospitals across England; helping them to save money and cut their carbon emissions.
In this article we explain what has been proposed and how the schools and hospitals will be selected.
How will the £200 million government funding be spent?
The government has committed approximately £200 million to support the installation of rooftop solar panels across schools and hospitals. Around £80 million is earmarked to install solar panels on 200 schools; and the remaining funding will go towards installing solar panels on 200 hospitals.
How will schools and hospitals be selected for solar panel funding?
The schools that will be selected for funding will mostly be in England’s North East, West Midlands and North West. The government is expected to prioritise installing solar panels on schools clustered in areas with high levels of social need.
At least 10 schools will be selected from each region, including one further education college which will work closely with the solar installer to promote careers in renewable technologies.
Hospitals are being selected through an expression of interest process, run by the NHS. The first solar panels are expected to be on schools and hospitals by the end of summer 2025.
How will solar panels positively impact schools and hospitals?
Reduced energy costs
Schools and hospitals have been hit particularly hard by rising energy costs. The NHS is the single biggest energy user in the public sector; and has seen its energy bills double since 2019 to an estimated £1.4 billion a year.
The government estimates that the proposed solar panel installations could save selected schools up to £25,000 a year and selected hospitals up to £45,000 a year – totalling around £400 million of cost savings over 30 years. These cost savings can then be reinvested back into vital teaching and healthcare services.
Environmental impact
Solar panels generate 100% renewable power, helping to reduce reliance on electricity from the national grid. For schools and hospitals, this is an important step in contributing to the UK’s broader climate goals.
Educational value
Schools with solar panels can use the systems as teaching tools, educating students about renewable energy, sustainability and the green economy. The solar installations will include further education colleges, promoting skills and careers in the renewable energy sector.
“The installation of solar will not only benefit schools financially, but will support pupils to develop green skills, promoting careers in renewables and supporting growth in the clean energy workforce.” Bridget Phillipson, Education Secretary
Good Energy is an expert at installing solar panels on schools and hospitals
Good Energy has installed solar panels at dozens of schools and hospitals across the country, including at 12 E-ACT academy trust sites in Sheffield, Birmingham and Manchester. Energy Secretary, Ed Milliband, Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson and Great British Energy CEO, Dan McGrail gathered at one of these 12 schools to announce the funding.
“At E-ACT, we’ve seen first-hand how solar energy can transform our schools by reducing carbon emissions, cutting energy costs, and creating lasting savings that we reinvest directly into our students’ education. With the scale of this initiative, hundreds of schools will now have the opportunity to achieve similar benefits.”
Tom Campbell, CEO, E-ACT Academy Trust
“This is a good step forward in helping the UK to cut carbon and reduce energy costs. It was great to hear about the benefits E-ACT has seen in reduced energy costs since. It was also heartwarming to see the enthusiasm of the some of the students we spoke to who are really interested in the green transition.”
Carl Hogg, Managing Director, Good Energy Services
Good Energy is very well placed to help the government to realise their ambition to install solar panels at 200 schools and 200 hospitals this year.
To us, the evidence is clear. We can bring down energy costs, cut carbon and increase our energy security by investing in solar panels.
