Six more primary schools maintained by Gloucestershire County Council are set to benefit from the installation of solar panels.
The schools, which have been selected after successful completion of a pilot scheme, include Eastington Primary.
The solar panels will generate average estimated annual savings of £4,360 per school and they are be expected to last over 20 years, subject to maintenance.
The pilot scheme which completed in August 2025, included 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 pilot scheme established the costs of installation and enabled measures to be put in place to ensure an efficient roll-out of the project at the next six maintained schools.
In July 2024, cabinet was recommended to approve the release of up to £2 million from the budget to provide solar panels on the premises of maintained schools. A procurement process to arrange contracts for purchase and installation of the solar panels completed in February.
Each of the council’s maintained schools will be assessed to determine their suitability for inclusion in the programme of works. The county council aims to install solar panels on the maximum number of schools possible that meet the criteria and it is anticipated that 85 out of 100 maintained schools will be suitable.
The project will see the panels installed in tranches to manage the process and is due to take place from March 2025 to March 2027.
The council has committed to creating a carbon neutral county by 2045, as well as reducing emissions by 80 per cent by 2030. Investing in low carbon technology such as solar panels will help meet these targets.
Cllr Stephen Davies, leader of the council, said:
“We are delighted to announce the next phase of our school solar power investment, and the next six schools to benefit from solar panels.
“This is part of our ongoing commitment to solar power in the county, and brings cost-saving, cleaner, greener energy to schools across Gloucestershire.
“Solar panels offer significant energy savings for schools and provide an opportunity for pupils to learn about renewable energy.
“I am thrilled that our schools are contributing to a more sustainable future.”
