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Image Credit: Solar for Schools Community Benefit Society
The Solar for Schools Community Benefit Society has secured a £3m loan from Triodos Bank UK, considerably boosting its efforts to expand a growing network of solar-powered schools. This initiative helps schools save on energy costs, plays a critical role in slashing carbon emissions, and protects them from the unpredictability of future energy prices.
Schools that join the program benefit from a long-term deal where they pay a fixed, lower rate for the solar electricity they use—locked in for 25 years—protecting against energy price volatility. Any excess energy produced is shared among the Society's members, fostering a sense of community and shared benefit.
In partnership with SolarOptions for Schools, the initiative offers engaging, hands-on education beyond energy savings. Both primary and secondary students get the chance to explore renewable energy, climate change, sustainability, and the emerging green skills crucial for the future.
Owned and managed by its member schools, Solar for Schools currently boasts over 150 rooftop solar installations and has a waitlist of more than 100 schools eager to join. With new funding from Triodos Bank and crowdfunding initiatives, the organisation aims to rapidly scale its impact, bringing solar power to around 30 additional schools, many located in some of the UK's most economically challenged communities.
"There are nearly 25,000 schools in the UK alone, requiring about £2bn to install solar on all sensible roofs," said Robert Schrimpff, co-founder of Solar Options for Schools and voluntary director of the Solar for Schools Community Benefit Society. "But individually, these schools are far too small to attract low-cost project finance.
"Creating a funding structure that addresses the needs and limitations of each school, the councils, and the Department for Education, while meeting the strict requirements of institutional lenders is therefore key to unlocking solar across the educational estate."
Solar for Schools has raised over £6m from nearly 1,000 individual bondholders, fueling the installation of more than 15MW of solar power across over 150 schools. With the backing of Triodos Bank, the Society is optimistic that this partnership will unlock even more funding opportunities, encouraging a broader range of investors—large and small—to support its mission.
"Getting Triodos onboard is a vital milestone in proving that we have created such a structure," added Schrimpff. "It will enable more funders to support schools with confidence. We can now focus on replicating this structure for church-owned schools, larger councils, and other community energy groups to enable thousands of schools to go solar."
Triodos Bank, a long-time renewable energy advocate, has financed such projects in the UK for almost 30 years. Over this time, it has lent £85m to more than 30 community energy initiatives. In its most recent efforts, Triodos provided a £5.6m loan to Ember, a Scottish operator of all-electric buses, helping them expand their fleet of zero-emission coaches—furthering its commitment to sustainable transportation and clean energy solutions.
"We're pleased to support an incredible organisation that is not only focused on generating more clean energy but is doing it in a way that educates the next generation about the environment, energy, electricity, and photovoltaics through really engaging and hands-on tools," said Amandine Tetot, head of energy and project finance at Triodos Bank UK.
"This aligns with our mission as a bank to support projects and organisations that have the power to make a meaningful difference to the environment and people's lives. We hope to be able to do a lot more lending like this in future."
The recent funding milestone was celebrated with a workshop at Churchfields Junior School in East London. Triodos Bank staff engaged with 30 students from years three to six, all members of the school's Eco Committee—the interactive session aimed to inspire young minds about the impact of renewable energy and sustainability.
Churchfields Junior School commissioned a 154kW system of 350 rooftop solar panels in July this year. This impressive installation is set to cover around 90% of the school's total annual electricity demand, significantly reducing its carbon footprint by avoiding approximately 500 tons of CO2 emissions. Additionally, the solar system has already saved the school £5,000 in energy costs, demonstrating the tangible benefits of switching to renewable energy.
"With solar panels hidden on the roof, pupils could easily come to school without noticing them," said James Easter, deputy head at Churchfields. "The education work helps to deliver a lasting legacy in the school and community.
"These pupils will go on to be ambassadors for sustainability, educating their friends and families and leading to further improvements in the school."
The latest funding update from Solar for Schools follows a significant initiative announced by The Green Finance Institute. In collaboration with climate solutions charity Ashden, the Institute has launched a year-long partnership to fund retrofit and energy efficiency measures in UK schools, all in a bid to help them achieve net zero emissions by 2030. The scheme will focus on pooling public and private funds while working closely with policymakers and supply chain partners to drive investment in retrofitting projects across school estates.
Statistics from the Department for Education highlight the urgency of this mission, as school buildings account for 37% of the UK's total public sector building emissions. In 2023 alone, these buildings generated expenditures of £1.8bn, underscoring the scale of the challenge and the potential savings from transitioning to energy-efficient infrastructures.
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