Westfield Primary Academy in Haverhill joins first wave for Great British Energy’s solar panel scheme

A Haverhill school is one of the first in the country to benefit from a new government scheme that will see it make big savings on its annual energy bills.

Westfield Primary Academy will cut its yearly energy bills by up to £12,000 after becoming one of only 11 schools in the nation to be included in the first wave of Great British Energy solar installations.

The Chalkstone Way school is installing 106 PV solar panels - plus new LED lighting.

It forms part of the Government’s Plan for Change to fix public services – while providing clean power for pupils and teachers.

Speaking earlier this year about the project, the school’s headteacher, Carly Moody, said: "This is to support our vision of being net zero and using renewable energy which is a positive step forward for Westfield.”

The remaining schools set to benefit will be announced this summer, with all that are part of the scheme expected to have solar panels installed by the end of the year.

It follows the Government’s announcement in March to award £180 million of funding for schools and hospitals to install rooftop solar, marking the first major project for Great British Energy - a company owned by the British people, for the British people.

In England, around £80 million is supporting around 200 schools, alongside £100 million for nearly 200 NHS sites, covering a third of NHS trusts, to install rooftop solar panels that could power classrooms and operations, while giving them the potential to sell leftover energy back to the grid.

Great British Energy’s first investment could see millions invested back into frontline services, targeting deprived areas, with lifetime savings for schools and the NHS of up to £400 million over around 30 years.

Energy Minister Michael Shanks said this week: “This government is supporting schools to save thousands on their bills so they can reinvest money saved into ensuring every child gets the best start in life.

“The installation of solar panels will also help pupils to develop green skills, promoting careers in renewables and supporting growth in the clean energy workforce.”

Great British Energy Chair Juergen Maier said: “Within two months we are seeing schools supported by our scheme having solar panels installed so they can start reaping the rewards of clean energy – opening up the opportunity for more money to be spent on our children rather than energy bills.

“By partnering with the public sector as we scale up the company, we will continue to make an immediate impact as we work to roll out clean, homegrown energy projects, crowd in investment and create job opportunities across the country.”

Currently only about 20 per cent of schools have solar panels installed, but the technology has huge potential to save money on bills.

Estimates suggest that on average, a typical school could save up to £25,000 per year if they had solar panels with complementary technologies installed such as batteries.

The funding will support the Government’s clean power mission as well as helping to rebuild the nation’s public services.

It forms Great British Energy’s first local investment, kickstarting the Local Power Plan and ensuring the benefits of this national mission are felt at a local level, with energy security, good jobs and economic growth.