Solar PV projects

Solar PV installations directly funded by schools.

Schools wishing to self-fund a solar PV installation on their premises must seek permission from the freeholder, which may be the Council, the Diocese or Academy Trust.  Where the Council is the freeholder, written consent must be obtained from the Council in advance of making any installation.  Please send a plan along with any other relevant information to Property Estates. 

Solar PV installations on school sites via third party financing

An alternative option can be via a 3rd party commercial or community organisation.  Capital costs are met upfront by the 3rd party provider with electricity being recharged to the school via a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).

As a freeholder of maintained school sites, the Council is required to sign a 25-year lease with the 3rd party provider for use of the school roof space where solar equipment is to be installed.  A lease must be signed in advance of project commencement. The lease addresses the long-term liability to the Council.

The school must also sign a Power Purchase Agreement with the 3rd party provider.  This agreement sets out the rate at which the school pays for the electricity used from the solar panels. This rate can be lower than the grid-supplied electricity rate.

Solar PV systems installed by 3rd parties before 31 March 2019 were eligible to receive  Feed In Tariff  (FiT) payments.  The FiT enabled providers to return energy to the national grid in exchange for a financial return. This ceased to exist on the 31 March 2019.

To proceed via the third party route, please notify Property Estates .

Grants for Solar PV

There are currently no grant funding schemes. Should this change, this page will be updated accordingly

Advice & Support

Please contact energy.conservation@eastussex.gov.uk