Two schools fitted with solar panels as part of wider £9m funding provided by UK government’s public owned energy company.
The benefits are already being seen of £9m funding from central government to help decarbonise public buildings and reduce energy bills. Some of that money has been used to instal solar panels on two schools in Newport.
Jubilee Park Primary School in Newport, photo courtesy of Welsh government
The installation was paid for with funds made available by Great British Energy, the UK Government’s publicly owned energy company. The Welsh government oversees delivery of the funding in Wales, administered by Salix Finance.
The two schools are Glan Llyn Primary School and Jubilee Park Primary School. As a result of the installation, Glan Llyn is expected to cut its carbon footprint by the equivalent of some 71 tonnes of CO2 per year, while Jubilee Park is expected to make carbon savings of some 10 tonnes.
Glan Llyn also received funding for battery storage through the Welsh government’s Ynni Cymru fund. This makes the site a functioning smart local energy system, which help communities increase energy efficiency and sustainability.
Rebecca Evans MS, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, says: ‘We are on a clean energy mission to deliver a net zero public sector by 2030 and make Wales greener, stronger and ready for the future. Solar panels on these two Newport primary schools will cut costs and carbon, as part of our efforts to transform community energy in Wales. The funding from Great British Energy, delivered by Welsh Government, is a testament to the shared priority of the UK and Welsh governments to tackle climate change and maximise the benefits for communities.’
Michael Shanks MP, Minister for Energy in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero in the UK government, adds: ‘Great British Energy is helping schools in Wales to cut their energy bills with clean, homegrown solar power, meaning more money can be spent on children’s education. This is our clean energy mission in action, supporting public services through lower bills for communities in Newport and across the UK.’
Gbenga Adenaike, Wales Programme Manager for Salix Finance, says: ‘Putting solar panels on school roofs is one of the smartest investments that can be made. With support from the Welsh Government and Great British Energy, as well as ourselves at Salix, schools can cut their energy bills, reduce carbon emissions and reinvest savings directly into pupils and classrooms.’
Cllr Yvonne Forsey, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Waste and Recycling at Newport City Council, adds: ‘Every penny counts for our schools, and these projects will make a very real difference to our schools and the communities they serve. Solar panels on school roofs not only generate clean energy and cut running costs but they help our children learn about sustainability and climate action. This is about the future, and the future is about them.’
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