The group of council leaders and health and police professionals that make up the Suffolk Public Sector Leaders agreed £3.72 million of funding for the Schools Solar Installation & Climate Action Fund project on Friday 25 October.

The transformative countywide initiative aims to place solar panels on up to 32 secondary schools across Suffolk. The power generated will be sold at a discounted rate, saving schools money on their energy bills and lowering their carbon footprint.

A total of four megawatts of rooftop solar will be installed over an anticipated three-year period. The agreement will sell the generated electricity to the host schools at a discounted rate for 25 years. Over 9,000 tonnes of carbon emissions will be prevented over the lifetime of the project.

Each school taking part in the project will also receive a student education package to go with their new solar panels. Any income generated from the project will be recycled back into environmental initiatives as part of a new ‘Climate Action Fund’.

Once the project is ready for delivery, secondary schools across Suffolk will be contacted by Suffolk County Council to discuss the opportunity.

Councillor Neil MacDonald, Chair, Suffolk Public Sector Leaders, says:

“This funding represents a significant step forward in our commitment to making Suffolk a leader in sustainability. By installing solar panels on our secondary schools, we are not only reducing carbon emissions but also providing valuable cost savings for our schools. The project demonstrates the collective action of our public sector leaders in addressing the climate crisis and investing in our future.”