Great British Energy announced earlier this month that it will invest £180 million in UK schools and hospitals using Solar PV. This is the team’s first investment in a campaign to reach net zero emissions by 2050, a national goal to reduce global warming in the UK. This decision has sparked debate from many parties and asks whether solar PV will save UK schools and hospitals “hundreds of millions”
This investment has been warmly welcomed by the school leaders’ union and NHS providers, struggling to provide good education and health care with rising energy bills. The financial pressures on these industries have been an ongoing fight ever since COVID-19, and no real solution has been raised. Energy Secretary Ed Milliband believes that this is the best way forward stating:
“Right now, money that should be spent on your children’s education or your family’s healthcare is instead being wasted on sky-high energy bill. Great British Energy’s first major project will be to help our vital public institutions save hundreds of millions on bills to reinvest on the frontline”
The campaign initially will be launched in 200 schools, a mere 1% of the national total. Even though it is a low percentage, the initiative has been welcomed by the National Association of Headteachers (NAHT) Secretary Paul Whiteman. He mentions that they had always wanted to utilise Solar PV as a cheaper alternative to gas, but the initial expense was off-putting, saying:
“This announcement is therefore welcome and a step in the right direction. In the longer term, this should also help schools manage energy bills, which have been a source of enormous financial pressure in recent years”
The other side of the discussion fears that this energy saving campaign will actually lose the country money. Shadow energy secretary Andrew Bowie has said that the plans would, in fact, make the country poorer. He has also gone on to say:
“Labour’s Net Zero zealotry is still set to make us poorer. The government is putting our very energy security at risk with their attacks on North Sea Oil and Gas – surrendering our energy independence to foreign powers like Russia.”
When are we likely to see work on this campaign to fight climate change? Work on installations will begin at the end of summer, focusing on the areas with the highest needs. If you’re a school looking to add energy-saving measures to your property, make sure to contact us.
