150 More Schools to Get Rooftop Solar Under PPA Pilot

Up to 150 schools in England are planning to have rooftop solar installed from next year, financed by private companies as part of a pilot scheme.

The Department for Education is including the schools in the Power purchase agreement (PPA) pilot. Already, 245 schools and colleges have government-funded solar panels, saving an estimated £220 million on energy bills over the lifetime of the solar panels.

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.

In the next wave of the of the pilot scheme, under the Great British Energy Solar Partnership backed by up to £40 million from government a further 150 schools and colleges across Yorkshire and Humber, the East Midlands and the South East will pilot the new model.

PPA Pilot

Under the PPA, the private sector installs and maintains solar PV panels at no upfront cost. Schools agrees to purchase the electricity generated by the panels at a pre-agreed rate, which the government says is usually lower than standard grid tariffs. The provider retains responsibility for maintenance and performance throughout the agreement.

Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, said: “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 to 2028, with the ambition that every school and college in England will eventually be able to install solar.

CEO and Founder of Solar Options for Schools, Robert Schrimpff, said: “We’ve been working with schools and the Department for Education for a decade, so the launch of this new solar Power purchase agreement pilot, is a significant step.

“It should unlock public and private sector in a way that will make it easier for schools to access all the benefits of having solar power.

“These benefits should include lower electricity costs, no long-term monitoring and maintenance costs, operational peace of mind, and support to inspire education that builds on sustainability skills that will help shape the future.”

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