More Sheffield schools in line to get solar panels on their roofs
New climate bond will pay for 23 more city schools to get PV panels to supply electricity
Another 23 Sheffield schools are set to get solar panels installed on their roofs.
The city council’s first-ever climate bond investment scheme raised £1m from investors, which is being used to fund installing solar panels on 21 council-run schools.
A meeting of the council’s finance and performance policy committee next Monday (October 19) will be asked to sign off on using £1m to be raised from a second climate bond issue, plus £325,000 from its renewable energy fund.
This will deliver phase two of the Solar On Schools project to another 23 schools. Councillors were told last month that there are 36 schools on a waiting list for PV panels.
The cost will cover installation and the new schools will be included in a 25-year contract set up to run the scheme. The electricity sold back to the national grid will help to cover running costs.
A report to next week’s committee says the scheme is expected to provide approximately one megawatt of additional renewable electricity capacity across participating schools.
The project contributes to the council’s plan for a net zero carbon city by 2030. It will also reduce energy costs for the schools involved.
Work is planned to commence from 2027, with the programme completed in 2028.
Other schools spending set for approval includes £51 ,500 on planning replacement window work at Brightside Nursery and Infant School, £602,000 to deliver expansion works at Firth Park School to provide additional year 7 places.
Councillors will also be asked to approve a budget of £602,380 to improve facilities at Sheaf Training Centre, which is a specialist post-16 education and training base in Norwood Drive, Pitsmoor.