The newly unveiled plan marks the first major initiative for Great British Energy, which will begin working immediately with schools and the NHS to install solar panels, develop local clean energy, and help lower energy costs. Reports Contract Journal
In England, approximately £80m in funding will support around 200 schools, while nearly £100m will be allocated to almost 200 NHS sites for the installation of rooftop solar panels. These panels will generate power for classrooms and medical operations, with surplus energy potentially being sold back to the grid.
The first solar panels are expected to be in place at schools and hospitals by the end of summer.
Additionally, nearly £12m will be provided to local authorities and community energy groups to support the development of local clean energy projects. These initiatives will range from community-led onshore wind farms to solar panel installations on rooftops and hydropower schemes in rivers.
A further £9m will be dedicated to supporting energy projects in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, including community energy schemes and rooftop solar panels on public buildings.
This support will focus on schools and hospitals with buildings suitable for solar panel installation, particularly in areas of England with the greatest need. The government will select schools primarily located in regions of deprivation, such as the North East, West Midlands, and North West, ensuring at least 10 schools in each region benefit from the initiative.
Each cluster of schools will include a further education college that will collaborate with appointed contractors to promote careers in the renewable energy sector. This effort will provide opportunities such as work placements, skills bootcamps, and workshops to help strengthen the construction and renewables workforce.
In parallel, the NHS conducted an expression of interest process to identify hospital sites for the scheme, with installations to be managed directly by the NHS.
