Solar Up
You can reduce your school’s carbon footprint and save money on energy bills by hosting solar panels on your school’s roof.
Keep scrolling to find out how your school can get solar panels for free!
Schools take a lot of energy to run. So, we’re making it our mission to help schools switch the energy they are using to renewable sources.
We’ve launched Solar Up, a project that puts solar panels on your school’s roof for free. We’ll even do the math, arrange the installation, monitor and maintain the panels over the next 25 years. So, you can tell your sustainability leads and site managers that we’ve got it covered.
What’s more, you’ll also be saving money! You will be able to buy the energy you use that is produced by the solar panels at a rate 20% lower than the electricity you purchase from your supplier. This will be reviewed annually so you will always be paying less if rates change.
How to take part:
1. Register your interest
First you need to apply to participate in this scheme by filling in an expression of interest form. This is quick and easy to do online.
Complete an expression of interest form2. Site visit
We will visit your school to check if your building is suitable and how much you could save on your energy bills.
Note: You will need to have half hourly (HH) consumption data from your current supplier.
3. Legal bits
We’ll do all the paperwork including surveys and planning applications. We will draft the underlease agreement which allows us to rent your roof space.
Note: You will need to ask your legal support to review the underlease agreement before you sign.
4. Purchase and installation
We will buy the panels and arrange for a solar installation company to install your panels.
Note: You will need to agree a suitable date for installation.
5. Enjoy your cleaner, more affordable energy
The panels will be monitored remotely to make sure they are working efficiently.
We will send you bills to charge for the energy the panels have generated. This will be at a 20% discounted rate in relation to your current energy provider.
In addition…
Your school will be offered a two-year subscription to Energy Sparks who provide data insights, action prompts and educational resources that help schools develop their climate action plans, make big energy and carbon savings, and develop pupils’ sustainability skills.
How will you be billed for your school’s energy going forward?
You will receive 2 energy bills – one from Suffolk County Council for your solar energy and one from your current provider as the solar panels will not generate enough power to cover all your energy consumption. Your Suffolk County Council bill will be at a 20% discounted rate in relation to your current energy provider.
If you’re not paying for the panels, who is?
The project is being funded by Suffolk’s public sector organisations as part of the Suffolk Climate Emergency Plan.
How do I know solar panels are a good option for my school?
No worries! Pop in an expression of interest anyway, and we will figure that out for you.
What other free stuff can I get for my school?
1. Free energy audits
If you want to make sure your secondary school is paying for more energy than it needs, you can get a free energy audit through our partnership with Groundwork.
Every participating school will receive:
✔ A site visit by energy experts
✔ A review of your energy and water usage
✔ A comprehensive energy audit report
✔ A follow-up meeting to plan your next steps
2. Join the Suffolk Sustainable Schools Network
In our network, school leaders and teachers are supported to create a climate action plan for their entire school for free. This is something that the Department for Education require all schools to have by 2025. Join over half of all Suffolk secondary schools that have already signed up.
Questions?
If you have any questions about the scheme, please contact solarup@suffolk.gov.uk. All media and communications enquiries to be sent to sustainablesuffolk@suffolk.gov.uk.
