A Wigan borough school is benefiting from solar panels as part of a Government scheme
Solar panels have been installed at a Wigan borough primary school to help cut its energy bills.
St Gabriel’s Catholic Primary School, in Higher Folds, is one of 100 schools and colleges where they have been fitted in a Great British Energy-funded scheme.
Solar panels are expected to be installed at around 250 locations by summer.
Great British Energy and the Government have targeted schools and colleges primarily clustered in areas of deprivation in the North East, West Midlands and North West, as well as at least 10 schools in each region of England.
The 250 schools and colleges are set to save up to an estimated combined £220m over the lifetime of the solar panels, taking pressure off finances and securing more money to be reinvested in classrooms.
Great British Energy and the Government is investing up to £255m to install solar and complementary technologies, including batteries, on schools and colleges, around 260 NHS sites and multiple military sites.
They will generate estimated lifetime savings for vital public services of up to £520m across schools and NHS sites alone.
This has seen £2.1m invested in new rooftop solar panels at Wigan Infirmary, Wrightington Hospital and Leigh Infirmary, as well as at several health centres across the borough.
Energy secretary Ed Miliband said: “Great British Energy has now helped 100 schools and colleges to save money on bills, meaning more money for textbooks and technology.
“Across the country, solar panels are going up on rooftops to power classrooms with clean, homegrown power.
“This is our clean energy mission in action, protecting our public services with lower bills and energy security.”
Great British Energy’s CEO Dan McGrail said: “Great British Energy is delivering affordable, clean power where it matters.
"Reaching 100 schools is an important milestone in our mission to cut energy bills and means more money can be spent on education.
“Our Local Power Plan will build on this success so that by 2030, every community in the UK will have the opportunity to own and benefit from a local energy project.”
The £1 billion Local Power Plan was published last month for communities to own and control clean energy projects, creating revenue for places of worship, social clubs and community centres.