During last summer, Project Better Energy began work to install solar panels on four of Wrekin College’s key buildings: its Sports Hall, Business School, Music School and Old Hall. At peak generation, this system will be fully self-sufficient. Wrekin College is one of many Businesses and educational colleges to embrace solar panel installation, and other installations designed to bring the sector down to net zero by 2037.
For this sector, there are numerous opportunities to tap into government grants and community energy projects. In September 2024, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) headed by Ed Miliband, the new Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, confirmed the continuation of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS).
PSDS Stage 4 is set up to support more public buildings such as schools and hospitals to switch to cleaner heating and cut their emissions, accelerating towards net zero sector wide. Grants for Funding is targeted towards high-quality projects that contribute most to the scheme’s direct carbon saving goal. PSDS Stage 4 has had £1.17bn allocated to it over the next three years - with £670 million being allocated to projects in 2025/26, £300 million for 2026/27, and £200 million for 2027/28. PSDS Stage 4 grants will be awarded from next April and applications will close on 25th November 2025. All projects must be completed by 31st March 2028.
Project Better Energy is already talking to many schools and colleges up and down the country about making PSDS 4 applications where clear decarbonisation benefits can be proven from solar panelling and solar battery storage installations, as well as installation of other green technologies to assist businesses in moving away from gas central heating for example.
As well as moving schools in the direction of Net Zero by 2037, there are many operational savings associated with installing solar panelling on school building roofs, as well as adding solar battery storage and Electrical Vehicle (EV) charging capacity on campus.
