Powering Potential: Why Solar Panels on School Rooftops Make Sense

As energy bills continue to rise and the urgency of the climate crisis grows, schools across the UK are looking for smarter, more sustainable ways to operate. One solution is quite literally above our heads: rooftop solar panels.

We’ve seen first-hand the transformative potential of solar energy through multiple public-sector projects. From Rye Hospital to Rye Leisure Centre, we’ve helped buildings lower their bills, reduce emissions, and gain greater energy independence. Now, we believe schools can follow suit — and new funding models are helping to make that possible.

Government Investment: Great British Energy Steps In

Earlier this year, the government launched its Great British Energy initiative, committing £200 million to install rooftop solar panels on around 200 schools and 200 hospitals. This bold step is expected to save schools up to £25,000 a year on energy bills, money that can be reinvested into frontline teaching and learning.

It’s important to note that Great British Energy is not directly responsible for installing solar panels. Instead, it provides funding and oversight, while the actual installation is carried out by solar companies selected by the Department for Education (DfE) and NHS Trusts. This ensures project delivery is aligned with local needs and infrastructure capabilities.

Currently, the programme focuses on areas of high social need in the North East, West Midlands, and North West, with no application required – schools are contacted directly. Each regional cluster includes a further education college, giving students opportunities to explore green careers and participate in the clean energy transition.

Beyond Installation: Why Maintenance Matters

While installation gets the headlines, long-term success relies on ongoing maintenance. Solar systems require proactive servicing, monitoring, and lifecycle care to perform optimally and meet their projected savings and sustainability targets.

At DMA Group, we offer long-term partnership models that include:

• Planned preventative maintenance for solar PV and battery systems.
• Real-time performance tracking and fault diagnostics.
• Integration with wider estate goals, such as condition-based monitoring, carbon reduction strategies, and compliance requirements.

For school trusts or public-sector estates managing multiple sites, this joined-up approach ensures solar is not a bolt-on, but a fully supported asset that evolves with your building strategy.

Solar for Schools CBS: Community Energy Without Borders

For schools outside the government’s immediate focus, or those looking for a more community-led route, there’s another option: the Solar for Schools Community Benefit Society (CBS).

This UK-wide non-profit helps schools fund, install, and benefit from solar panels with no upfront cost. Here’s how it works:

• Ethical Investment: The CBS raises money through 5-year community bonds, offering modest financial returns.
• Full-Service Delivery: Solar systems are designed, installed, and maintained by trusted partners.
• Revenue Sharing: Schools pay only for the energy they use, and any surplus profit is returned to them.
• Education Built In: Schools receive tailored STEM learning materials, real-time energy data dashboards, and sustainability workshops.

CBS has already installed systems at over 150 schools, saving carbon and delivering cost reductions, while engaging over 140,000 pupils in sustainability education.

Our Experience: Proving It Works in Practice

DMA Group’s approach to solar isn’t theoretical, it’s practical and proven. Take Rye Hospital, for example. After installing solar PV and battery storage, the hospital now operates as the UK’s first carbon-neutral community hospital. Since 2022, its solar system has generated over 240 MWh of clean energy and saved over 174 tonnes of CO₂e. That’s the equivalent of planting nearly 3,000 trees!

But Rye Hospital is just one part of a much broader commitment:

• Five Villages Housing Association: Delivered solar and battery storage to an independent living complex, saving £6,500 annually and generating 52.7 MWh.
• Rye Leisure Centre: Installed in late 2024, the system has already reduced grid reliance by a third, saving £8,300 in just four months.
• Hub on the Hill: A community wellbeing centre where solar PV now supplies nearly a third of its power needs, saving £18,000 and cutting 54.7 tCO₂e to date.

Across all these projects, we’ve generated over 400 MWh, exported 117 MWh back to the grid, and saved an estimated 109,805 tCO₂e. That’s real impact with real data behind it.

What Next for Schools?

Whether you’re a school:

• selected for the Great British Energy rollout,
• exploring options through Solar for Schools CBS, or
• simply wanting to future-proof your building for energy efficiency…

…DMA Group can help guide the journey.

We bring the technical expertise, regulatory know-how, and project delivery experience to make solar a success—just as we did at Rye and across the wider Hastings and East Sussex region. And we stay with you after the panels are installed, offering comprehensive maintenance contracts that ensure your investment delivers for decades to come.

Our goal is simple: to make buildings work better—for budgets, for people, and for the planet.

Get in Touch

Are you a school leader or trust executive interested in exploring solar for your estate? Whether you’re in the government’s target zones or looking at alternative funding, we’d love to help you navigate the best path forward.

We want to help turn your rooftops into assets, and your schools into climate action hubs.