Suffolk councils and other public sector leaders have agreed to spend £3.7million on installing solar panels across the roofs of 32 schools in the county. 

At a Suffolk Public Sector Leaders group meeting on Friday, leaders of all councils in the county along with the police and the Police and Crime Commissioner agreed to install solar panels that they believe will help save 7,500 tonnes of carbon emission and £7m in the next 25 years. 

One of the leaders at the meeting said that such an investment would make "Suffolk a superpower in green energy". 

Copleston High, Westbourne Academy, Northgate High and Kesgrave High are amongst the schools that will benefit from this scheme. 

Cllr Faircloth-Mutton had lead the presentation of the proposal. Suffolk County Councillor Philip Faircloth-Mutton led the presentation of the proposal.  (Image: Suffolk County Council)

The proposal was presented by Suffolk County Council cabinet member for environment Philip Faircloth-Mutton, along with East Suffolk Council chief executive Chris Bally and the county council's assistant director for waste and environment Steve Palfrey.

The proposed agreement will be in place for 25 years and will cost £3.72m to install a total of 4MW of rooftop panels over three years. 

The electricity will be sold back to the host schools for an initial rate of 20p/kWh, and all profits will then be reused to aid the council's environmental strategy.

32 schools will benefit from this scheme.32 schools will benefit from this scheme. (Image: Suffolk Public Sector Leaders Group)

Cllr Clifford Waterman was in favour of the proposal. Cllr Clifford Waterman was in favour of the proposal.  (Image: West Suffolk Council) Leader of West Suffolk Council Clifford Waterman agreed with the proposal and the positive effect it is expected to have upon the environment in Suffolk. 

He said: "It is great that the financial case of this stands up, and is cyclical. 

"What I like about this proposal is that is a part of the wider programme of hitting net zero emissions in the county, making Suffolk a superpower in green energy."

Cllr Caroline Topping wishes for the schools to get something back from adding the panels.Cllr Caroline Topping wishes for the schools to get some money back from adding the panels.  (Image: Sonya Duncan) Leader of East Suffolk Council Caroline Topping was also in favour of the proposal and said she hopes money could be given back to schools as well instead of the council.

"We know that schools in Suffolk have less money per pupil than in Norfolk," Cllr Topping said. 

"So it would be nice for them to get the money back from solar panel expenditures like this."

The officer responded saying that they were having conversations with the big academy chains to discuss how this could function.