Our support for schools in areas of high economic deprivation has helped them save tens of thousands of pounds on their energy bills and cut carbon emissions. We have provided finance for them to install roof-top solar panels to generate clean electricity as part of a five-year commitment to spend £2.7 million helping schools reach net zero goals.

This has resulted in the schools saving £56,000 on their energy bills so far, as well as 55,571 tonnes of CO2 – equivalent to 142 million miles driven by an average sized petrol car.

The savings are the result of a partnership launched a year ago with Solar for Schools to provide grants and guidance, and so far seven schools in the Midlands have benefited, including Wallbrook Primary School in Dudley and Birmingham’s Shireland Collegiate Academy.

One of the first to adopt solar with a 49.8kWp system was Ark Kings Academy in Birmingham, which has saved nearly £14,000 on its energy bills and prevented 10 tonnes of CO2 emissions.

Our Community Engagement Manager Ellie Patey said: “This pioneering collaboration has proven greater than the sum of its parts, helping more schools to access solar panels and renewable energy education.

“Backed by £2.7m of National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED) funding over five years, the initiative is ensuring under-represented communities benefit from the net zero transition – unlocking multi-million pound energy bill savings, reducing carbon emissions, and bringing green jobs to life for young people.”

Robert Schrimpff, CEO of Solar for Schools, said: “This is a transformational partnership which ultimately enables over £10m worth of solar projects to be realised. These projects will achieve up to six times more CO2 savings than had NGED donated smaller systems to schools on their own. We’re very proud to have NGED on board with this grant scheme.” Any schools interested in the initiative can find out more here.