Six schools to get solar panels in £2m rollout

Solar panels are set to be installed in primary schools as part of a £2m rollout.

Six schools across Gloucestershire will save an average of £4360 on their energy bills after they were selected following a pilot scheme.

"Solar panels offer significant energy savings for schools and provide an opportunity for pupils to learn about renewable energy," said council leader Stephen Davies.

The panels are expected to last for 20 years with maintenance and will be installed in stages between March 2025 and March 2027.

The schools selected are ones maintained by Gloucestershire County Council, which believes 85 out of 100 maintained schools will be suitable once assessments have been done.

The pilot scheme involved Nailsworth CofE Primary, Harewood Junior in Tuffley, St John's Primary in Cheltenham, Ashchurch Primary in Tewkesbury, Stow-on-the-Wold Primary and Woolaston Primary in Lydney.

The next six schools are Castle Hill Primary in Brockworth, Eastington Primary in Churchend, Holy Trinity Primary in Cheltenham, Northleach Primary, Soudley School and Tredworth Junior in Gloucester.

The council committed to creating a carbon neutral county by 2045, reducing emissions by 80 per cent by 2030.

Mr Davies, leader of the council, said: "This is part of our ongoing commitment to solar power in the county, and brings cost-saving, cleaner, greener energy to schools across Gloucestershire.

"I am thrilled that our schools are contributing to a more sustainable future" he added.

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