£1.85 million environmental investment
Some two-dozen schools in the West are set to save £50,000 a year thanks to new solar panels, alongside new efforts to cut pollution and emissions in the region.
The Mayor and council leaders’ next joint meeting on 17 October will consider plans to invest £700,000 secured by the regional authority from the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero through Great British Energy, match-funded by local councils, into a school solar and green careers project. This project is expected to deliver one megawatt of new energy capacity across 23 schools in the West of England, reducing their energy bills by an estimated £1.6 million and making more money available for other things over the lifetime of the project.
The new Growth Strategy, published on 24 September, highlights the importance of nature and the growth of clean energy. Over the last decade, the sector saw 140% job growth in the West – the most of any region in the country, including London. The strategy sets out an ambition to develop the capacity to generate another 135 megawatts of clean energy in the next ten years, as part of the wider effort to create 72,000 new jobs and 28% economic growth.
Proposals are also being considered at Friday's meeting for £220,000 secured from the European Union’s (EU) Horizon Programme’s SpurUp project, which works with 34 partners from 11 EU countries. The scheme would work in partnership with the University of Bristol to test innovative technologies and digital tools to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said:
“Renewable energy will cut bills and create jobs. Our regional authority has secured national funding for solar panels on local schools, through a new £1.65 million funding partnership between Great British Energy and local councils. We have also won over £200,000 of European funding to work with the University of Bristol to continue to test innovative new technology to further reduce pollution.
“Almost two dozen schools across Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, and South Gloucestershire will together save over £50,000 a year. Our new Growth Strategy has underlined that, with the largest job growth in clean energy anywhere in the country over the last ten years, the West is the natural home of new green job. Alongside this investment, pupils are also set to benefit from learning more about careers in this area.”
Councillor Sarah Warren, Deputy Leader of Bath & North East Somerset (B&NES) Council and Cabinet Lead for Sustainable B&NES, said:
“This funding offers a great opportunity – while many schools in Bath & North East Somerset have rooftop solar it is exciting to see the investment in green careers as part of this very welcome funding.”
Councillor Tony Dyer, Leader of Bristol City Council, said:
“We are continuing to make steps to decarbonise Bristol through our Clean Air Zone, active travel offers for residents, and two liveable neighbourhoods, while working towards making the West of England an even more sustainable area. It is important that we protect the health and future of our residents and buildings while creating a city that runs effectively without damaging the environment.
“Schemes like this demonstrate the value of educating children and young people on the importance of climate action and working together as a combined authority to the secure the investment needed to meet our net zero ambitions.”
Councillor Maggie Tyrrell, Leader of South Gloucestershire Council, said:
“South Gloucestershire is already working towards putting solar panels on all our schools and this finding is welcome as we seek to reduce school costs and use our buildings to provide more of the energy we need in the future in ways that will preserve our environment now and for the generation of children who are currently on our schools.”
