Schools across Tees Valley are cutting their energy bills and carbon footprint after the completion of a solar power scheme.
The Solar for Schools programme helped schools to install solar photovoltaic panels at 10 schools, helping to reduce carbon emissions while delivering savings on electricity and educational opportunities for pupils.
The project delivered grant funding of £180,950, unlocking an additional £718,668.31 in match funding and enabling the installation of more than 2,500 solar panels.
Solar panels on Viewley Hill Academy, Hemlington, Middlesbrough (Image: Supplied)
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: "This project means thousands of solar panels generating clean, cheap electricity on school rooftops right across our region, helping them cut energy costs to invest more into the resources that will benefit local pupils.
"Our schools have a hugely important role to play in helping us connect local young people to new opportunities coming to Teesside, and it's right that we're doing all we can to free up cash that will be spent making sure pupils in Teesside have the skills to get stuck into jobs in industries of the future.
"I'm committed to supporting projects like this that deliver real benefits for Teessiders, and thanks to Solar for Schools, we're investing to help local schools benefit through lower costs."
The programme, a partnership between Tees Valley Combined Authority, not-for-profit Solar for Schools, and delivery partner OASES, provided individual grants of between £10,000 and £20,000.
Schools are now expected to save around 201 tonnes of CO2 emissions collectively, contributing to the region's ambitions to lead in clean energy and net zero.
The panels also offer real-world learning opportunities, allowing students to engage with live data and deepen their understanding of sustainability, science and technology.
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Beth Davison, project officer at OASES, said: "As the North East delivery partner for Solar for Schools, OASES is proud to help educate children about solar energy and the benefits it brings to their school and local community, building awareness of green energy and inspiring the next generation to embrace a more sustainable future."
The Solar for Schools model enables schools to generate their own renewable electricity, supporting operations while integrating sustainability into the curriculum.
By reducing energy costs, schools can redirect savings toward classroom resources and learning improvement.
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