The Benefits of SolarEdge for Warehouse Landlords in the UK

The government has announced a significant expansion of solar for schools. On 16 July 2026, the Department for Education, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Great British Energy confirmed up to £40 million of additional funding, alongside a new pilot that will bring privately funded solar panels to schools and colleges at no upfront cost.

For school leaders and trust estate managers weighing up rooftop solar, this announcement matters. Here is a breakdown of what was announced, why solar for schools works, and what to do next.

Three headline commitments sit at the centre of the government's announcement:

100 more schools will receive government-funded solar. These schools join the Great British Energy Solar Partnership, backed by up to £40 million of new government funding. Some 245 schools and colleges already have panels installed through the programme.

150 schools and colleges will pilot a privately funded model. Schools in Yorkshire and the Humber, the East Midlands and the South East will trial an approach where private investment funds, installs, owns and maintains the panels, subject to quality checks. Schools pay nothing upfront and simply buy the electricity generated at a rate significantly cheaper than their standard tariff.

A national rollout is planned from 2027-28. The pilot is designed to inform a wider scheme, with the stated ambition that every school and college in England will eventually be able to access solar.

This expansion builds on results, not projections. According to the Department for Education, secondary schools that have installed solar panels and upgraded to LED lighting are saving £58,600 a year on average, while primary schools are saving £21,000. Across the roughly 250 schools and colleges in the government-funded rollout, combined savings are estimated at up to £220 million over the lifetime of the panels.

Every pound saved on energy is a pound returned to teaching, equipment and pupils. That is the core logic of the programme, and it is the same logic that applies to any organisation with suitable roof space and daytime energy demand.

The funded model being piloted is well established in commercial solar. Often structured as a power purchase agreement (PPA), it removes the capital barrier that stops many organisations from installing solar: a third party finances and owns the system, and the host site buys the clean electricity it generates at a discounted rate.

Applying this model to the schools estate opens the door for the education sector far beyond the 250 schools named in this announcement. Government funding will only ever reach a proportion of England's schools and colleges. Privately funded solar, delivered to a high standard, is how the rest of the sector gets there, and the planned 2027-28 rollout signals clear direction of travel.

You do not need to wait for a funding allocation. Zero-upfront-cost solar already exists in the commercial market. Schools with suitable roofs can act now rather than waiting for the national rollout.

Energy bill certainty is the real prize. Solar shields school budgets from volatile wholesale energy prices, giving greater predictability over one of the largest non-staff costs on the books.

Roof condition and energy data matter. Whether through a government scheme or a private agreement, the schools that move fastest are those with a clear picture of their roof condition, electrical infrastructure and consumption profile. A feasibility assessment is the sensible first step.

As a commercial solar PV, battery storage and energy optimisation specialist, Plug me in works with organisations across the education, leisure, healthcare and public sectors to design, install and maintain solar panels for schools and commercial sites that deliver measurable savings. The team has completed more than 1,300 projects over 15+ years of delivery, and is rated 4.8 on Trustpilot.

Support for schools and trusts includes:

•         Feasibility and design. Site surveys, roof assessments and system designs built around your actual consumption data, so savings projections are evidenced rather than estimated.

•         Solar PV and battery storage. High quality installation of rooftop solar, with battery storage where it strengthens the business case, maximising the value of every kilowatt hour generated.

•         Funded solutions. Guidance on funding routes, including PPA-style models that mirror the government's pilot and remove the need for upfront capital.

•         Lifetime asset management. Ongoing monitoring, maintenance and performance optimisation, protecting the system's output and the savings it delivers for decades.

The government's expansion confirms what the results already show: solar works for schools. For any school, college or trust ready to explore what it could deliver on your estate, get in touch for a no-obligation feasibility conversation.

How much can schools save with solar panels?

Secondary schools with solar panels and LED lighting upgrades are saving £58,600 a year on average, and primary schools £21,000, according to Department for Education figures. Actual savings depend on roof size, orientation and energy consumption, which is why a site-specific feasibility assessment matters.

Can schools get solar panels for free?

Under funded models such as the government's new pilot, or a commercial power purchase agreement, schools pay nothing upfront. A third party funds, owns and maintains the system, and the school buys the electricity generated at a rate below its standard tariff.

Which schools are eligible for the Great British Energy Solar Partnership?

The £40 million expansion adds 100 schools to the government-funded scheme, while the no upfront cost pilot covers 150 schools and colleges in Yorkshire and the Humber, the East Midlands and the South East. Schools outside the scheme can still access privately funded solar through the commercial market.

How long do solar panels for schools last?

Well-maintained solar PV systems typically operate for 25 years or more, which is why the government estimates lifetime savings of up to £220 million across the roughly 250 schools in its rollout.

•         GOV.UK: Hundreds more schools to save on bills as government solar drive slashes millions off energy costs (16 July 2026)

•         GOV.UK: 100 schools cutting bills with Great British Energy solar panels (March 2026)

•         Great British Energy: Schools solar rollout