Local Schools Get Solar Panel Boost to Slash Bills and Go Greener

A fresh round of funding for solar panels to slash bills and help our region’s schools go greener has been unveiled.

Schools from all five of our boroughs are set to receive a range of panels with the help of not-for profit Solar For Schools and a £200,000 boost from the Combined Authority.

Among the winners was New Marske Primary School, near Redcar, who have been awarded a £17,600 grant to install a raft of panels.

These will replace 28% of their grid supply to cut energy bills and save the equivalent of four tonnes of CO2 every year.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen visited the school this week to celebrate their success.

Headteacher John Dooris said: “We are delighted that New Marske Primary School has been successful in getting solar panels in school as part of the Solar for Schools Project.

“Although we are excited about the savings we will make on our utility bills, allowing more money to go directly back to school, the environmental education programme for pupils provided by the project will inspire a generation of young people to become much more aware of the steps they can take to look after the environment around them.”

The programme will see now fewer 284 New Marske pupils learn more about the environment and renewable energy generation with the help of Solar For Schools.

Richard Turner, Strategic Partnerships Manager at Solar For Schools, said: “We are delighted with the support from the Tees Valley Combined Authority. Grant funding is essential as it allows us to turn projects that might not be economically viable on their own into successful initiatives.

“Continued and increased grant support across the UK will enable us to bring these benefits to even more schools, driving wider environmental impacts and cost savings.”

All the panels for schools in this latest round of funding are set to be in place by March next year.

Recent years have seen the Combined Authority and the North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub help schools work with Solar For Schools to get more panels on school buildings across the country.

Mayor Houchen said: “It’s great to see our schools embracing green technology and benefitting from this funding.

“We are a true energy powerhouse in Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool and we have all the building blocks in place to be the beating heart of this push with thousands of good quality jobs coming through huge projects.

“I’d urge more of our schools to look into these grants and get support. Not only does it save money, but it teaches our future generations of the huge benefits solar energy can bring here and now, and whether our future as a region lies.”

Successful schools included:

• Billingham South Community Primary School – Stockton
• Breckon Hill Primary School – Middlesbrough
• Holmwood School – Middlesbrough
• Hurworth School – Darlington
• Longfield Academy – Middlesbrough
• New Marske Primary School – Redcar
• Northfield School and Sports College – Stockton
• Pallister Park Primary School – Middlesbrough
• The Rydal Academy – Darlington
• Viewley Hill Academy – Middlesbrough

Talks are also continuing to include at least two Hartlepool-based schools in the programme.

To find out more about funding for schools, email: [email protected]