North East Mayor Funds Solar Panels at 24 Schools to Cut £100K Annual Energy Bills

A major initiative is underway across the UK to install solar panels in schools, aiming to reduce carbon footprints and save on energy costs. In the North East, 24 schools in Sunderland and Northumberland are receiving £700,000 in funding from GB Energy’s Mayoral Renewables Fund, expected to save around £100,000 annually while cutting 85 tonnes of CO2 emissions—the equivalent of the energy used by 150 homes. This investment targets schools in rural and socially disadvantaged areas to improve energy resilience and allow schools to redirect savings to educational and community activities such as breakfast and after school clubs. Separately, the Let’s Go Zero campaign, led by the charity Ashden and working within the Barker consortium, has engaged 39 schools in East Lancashire and plans to support 47 schools and colleges in the North West, as part of the UK Government’s £200 million Great British Energy investment. The campaign focuses not only on solar installations but also on encouraging energy-saving behaviors, aiming to cut energy use by at least 10%. Government officials emphasize the importance of collaborative and practical action to create low-carbon and climate-resilient education settings, benefiting learners, staff, and communities.