Our Approach – Schools Energy Coop

The Schools' Energy Approach

The Schools’ Energy Co-operative was launched in 2014, based on the highly successful Wey Valley Solar Schools Co-op, with the aim to bring solar PV and the associated environmental and economic benefits to schools across England.

We install community funded solar panel systems on schools free of charge. The co-op owns the panels and the school pays the co-op for the electricity they use at a very favourable rate. We estimate that we are saving our 80 schools around £400,000 this year (2025) with this model.

It doesn't stop there - the schools are also members of our co-op and we pay any profits to the schools each year in the form of dividends. We work with the schools and local community groups to maximise the environmental, educational and community impact of the solar installations.

Perivale Primary School with Cllr Julian Bell Copyright © 2019 Andrew Wiard

Our Track Record

We reached 100 installations in 2024

More than 80 schools, plus community buildings, hospices and a commercial building

We have installed in 22 counties across England

Total installed capacity of more than 4000 kW

Annual expected generation of nearly 3.8 GW

Most installations are between 20 - 40 kW, our biggest is 445 kW (across 3 campuses at Wiltshire College)!

The Process

Feasibility - when a school approaches us, we'll review their suitability

Proposal and agreement - we'll predict potential generation, carbon savings and financial savings of the project, and make a proposal to the school

Development - we need to conduct surveys, apply for connection to the grid and agree contracts

Installation - this may happen in term time or the school holidays depending on the location of the panels and school's circumstances, we will work with the school to find a suitable time

Membership - the school becomes a member of the co-op and it receives dividend payments from the co-op's profits. It pays the co-op a fixed price for the electricity it uses from the solar panels, less than they would pay to use electricity from the grid

Operations - we monitor the systems and arrange any maintenance. We usually have a contract with the school for 25 years, after which the panels are handed over to the school's ownership (they should have many more years of life in them)

Who owns the co-op?

The co-op is owned by its members - as well as the schools we have over 700 investor members from across the UK. These are ordinary parents and citizens who want to do something positive for the environment and their schools, and they receive a fair return on their investment each year, usually around 5%. The Schools' Energy Co-op has a voluntary board of directors who steers the group.

A boost for smaller community energy groups

Because we have many years of experience in this sector, we can support other community energy groups to scale up their ambitions.

For example, Salisbury Community Energy approached us with the impressive goal to put solar panels on Salisbury Cathedral, one of the biggest and best-loved cathedrals in the UK. We partnered with them and the money was raised through a community share offer in 2019 - the 37 kW installation was completed in 2020, with panels located on the South Cloister roof and not visible from the ground.

We are always open to hearing from other community energy groups as well as schools. Get in touch if you are part of a community energy group that needs support to grow from ideas to installations.

Canon Robert Titley with Laura Moreno, Director of Schools Energy Co-op, on top of Salisbury Cathedral. Photo by Ash Mills.

Working with Energy4All

Managing more than 100 rooftop solar PV sites is a huge responsibility and requires dedicated staff time. The Schools' Energy Co-operative have a contract with Energy4All, a family of more than 30 energy co-operatives across the UK. Energy4All provide day-to-day administrative and management services including bookkeeping and asset management. This allows the organisation to be run to a professional standard, though it remains independent and community-led by its voluntary board of directors.