Two Croydon schools have been announced among 250 that are to benefit from having solar panels fitted to their roofs under a scheme run by Great British Energy.
Cost-cutting: using solar power helps schools redirect funds into their education budgets
The funding from Great British Energy and the government should enable millions of pounds from school budgets to be channelled into books and teaching equipment, as schools in the scheme each save thousands on their energy bills.
Harris Primary Academy Benson on West Way, Shirley, and Harris City Academy Crystal Palace have both been included in the national scheme, with Natasha Irons, the Labour MP for Croydon East, which includes the primary, describing the move as “a fantastic investment”.
The £100million programme is the first major project for the Labour government’s publicly-owned energy company, which is also funding solar panels and other energy efficiency measures for NHS sites and military bases.
For schools which have already had solar panels installed, savings on their fuel bills from utilising homegrown, clean power, are already being reinvested in the classroom.
According to a multi-departmental announcement from Whitehall, “This is part of the government’s drive to make all public buildings more climate resilient.
“Rocketing energy bills have eaten into school budgets in recent years. This has been driven by the UK’s dependency on global fossil fuel markets over which government has no control.
Clean energy: MP Natasha Irons has welcomed the investment for the school in Shirley
“By enabling schools to generate their own electricity, it is estimated schools will save millions, far more than installation costs.”
MP Irons said: “This fantastic investment by Great British Energy in Harris Primary Academy Benson will mean less money spent on energy bills and more resources being directed into the thing that really matters – frontline resources.
“Through Great British Energy, Labour is delivering energy security, investing in our public services and delivering lower bills for our communities.”
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Never understood why Croydon Council when allocated with funds to offset climate change failed to spend the £4 million allocation to renewable energy projects which would have at least provided some long term income stream for the parlous Council finances, but of course Newman, Negrini, Perry & Kerswell always knew better.