Schools and public buildings in South Gloucestershire are now benefitting from lower energy bills and lower carbon emissions thanks to the council installing solar panels.
South Gloucestershire Council has delivered a significant expansion of renewable energy generation across its estate during 2026. 980kW of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity has been installed at 11 schools. These school installations were part funded by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority as part of Great British Energy’s Mayoral Renewables Fund.
In addition, the council has invested in a further 280kW of solar PV capacity across a range of community facilities, including libraries and children’s centres, helping to reduce energy costs and increase the use of clean, locally generated electricity.
Together, these new installations are expected to generate enough renewable electricity each year to meet the equivalent annual demand of approximately 390 average homes in England, while reducing reliance on the national grid across these buildings by around one-third.
This substantial investment has more than doubled the council’s rooftop solar generation capacity, significantly increasing renewable energy production across the property portfolio and improving the resilience and sustainability of the council’s estate.
Councillor Louise Harris, cabinet member for the climate and nature emergency at South Gloucestershire Council, said: “When we started our council term one of the top priorities was to look after our environment. Putting solar panels on the council buildings and schools was a real way we could make a difference. We’re really pleased to see solar installed across the council’s buildings.
“It is estimated that each school or public building that’s had solar installed as part of this programme will save around a third of its energy costs. It’s a win for the environment and keeps costs down.
“By harnessing the power of the sun, solar panels produce clean, low-carbon energy, helping to reduce dependence on traditional electricity and gas supplies.
“We are putting our climate and nature action plan into action and demonstrating the council’s continued commitment to addressing the climate and nature emergency, reducing carbon emissions, and supporting the transition to a cleaner, greener future for South Gloucestershire.”
Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said: “Our funding for schools, children’s centres, and libraries in South Gloucestershire, including Yate, Staple Hill and Longwell Green, are going to feel the benefit of these solar panels. We hope to soon be able to invest in even more solar panels across the West, thanks to more funding announced last month.
“Saving money through green energy today can help protect tomorrow, and thanks to more new funding, we will be able to help even more communities. It’s great to see South Gloucestershire Council matching the investment provided by the Mayoral Renewables Fund, secured from Great British Energy.”
School projects (part funded by the Mayoral Renewable Fund):
- Abbotswood Primary, Yate
- Shield Road Primary, Filton
- Wellesley Primary, Yate
- New Horizons Primary Learning Centre, Kingswood
- Longwell Green Primary, Longwell Green
- Bromley Heath Junior, Downend
- Bromley Heath Infant, Downend
- Coniston Primary, Patchway
- St Stephens Infant, Kingswood
- New Horizons Secondary Learning Centre, Kingswood
- Barley Close Primary, Mangotsfield.
Non-school projects:
- Staple Hill Children’s Centre, Staple Hill
- Yate Library, Yate
- Page Park Pavilion, Staple Hill
- Hanham Library, Hanham
- Patchway Children’s Centre, Patchway
- Cadbury Heath Library, Cadbury Heath
- Downend Library, Downend.
A video of Councillor Louise Harris and Kathryn Jones, business manager at Wellesley Primary School, talking about the school’s new solar installation is available at https://youtu.be/kDAsHkBqAOs
For local advice and support services for home retrofit and energy saving, visit:
Retrofit West – https://www.retrofitwest.co.uk/ – T: 0800 038 6733
Warm and Well – https://warmandwell.co.uk/ – T: 0800 500 3076.
