Green grant from Mayoral Renewables Fund to cut school and college energy bills in Coventry

A school and college in Coventry are set to see their fuel bills slashed under pioneering green plans being funded by West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker.

Solar panels are being installed at Coventry College and Sidney Stringer Academy as part of a project to create a Net Zero Neighbourhood in the Hillfields area of the city.

They are being funded with £700,000 which has been secured by the Mayor, West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and Coventry City Council from newly established,  government-owned Great British Energy (GBE).

Up to 90 per cent of the power needed to run both sites will be renewable, saving them a combined £90,000 a year in energy costs while cutting carbon emissions.

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “The action we’re taking at Coventry College and Sidney Stringer Academy to cut their energy bills will free up thousands of pounds that can go straight back into teaching and supporting our young people. And at the same time, we’re making the Hillfields area a cleaner, greener place to live.

“Thanks to major government backing, we’ve got the chance to roll out a big programme that will modernise more schools, libraries, leisure centres and council buildings across Coventry and beyond. This will help to protect the services people rely on every day and make sure they’re stronger and more resilient in the future.”

West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker with Claire Turpin, CEO of Sidney Stringer Multi Academy Trust, Government Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh, Andrew Walls, vice principal and year 12 student Jasmine.

Sidney Stringer Academy and Coventry College are in one of the region’s first Net Zero Neighbourhoods – and have some of Coventry’s most gas-hungry buildings.

The solar panels are part of plans for a wider programme of investment in the area, including extending a low-carbon heat network that will unlock even greater bill savings and lower emissions.

Andrew Walls, vice principal at Sidney Stringer Academy Trust, said: “Over the last year we've made significant strides with energy efficiency, savings and reducing our carbon footprint. Thanks to this funding we can now generate a huge share of our electricity from renewable solar energy which will be transformative for our schools.

“Practically, it will significantly lower our energy costs so that more finance can go to frontline education. It will also significantly reduce our carbon emissions and help us in realising our vision of achieving Net Zero by 2030. This makes our schools more sustainable and sets a real and practical example for our students of how renewable energy can save both money and the planet.”

Gemma Knott, vice principal for business growth at Coventry College, said: “Our college is hugely passionate about supporting the government to achieve its net zero targets. Alongside funding for our own solar panels, we’re delighted to have successfully secured funding to deliver new solar voltaic bootcamps to residents and businesses across the region.

“This will up-skill and re-skill local people to help install the growing number of solar panels, while we also install panels on our own campus to cut overheads – savings we can reinvest directly into skills and training for Coventry residents.”

Cllr Jim O’Boyle, Coventry City Council’s cabinet member for jobs, regeneration and climate change, said: "This fantastic funding boost from the West Midlands Combined Authority is a real game-changer for Coventry’s path to net zero. 

“By powering key educational buildings with clean, renewable energy, we’re not only cutting carbon emissions but also saving vital resources that can be reinvested into our community’s future.

“Projects like this demonstrate how innovation and partnership can drive the green economy and create a healthier, more sustainable city for all."

The WMCA is delivering a £200 million government-funded programme to decarbonise almost 20,000 homes, businesses, and public buildings, including schools and colleges, to cut carbon emissions and energy costs, helping the region meet its 2041 net zero ambition.

The region’s first seven Net Zero Neighbourhoods are in Brockmoor, Dudley; Castle Vale, Birmingham; Graiseley, Wolverhampton; Park Lane Estate, Sandwell; Chelmsley Wood, Solihull; Dudley Fields, Walsall; and Hillfields, Coventry

The funding for the energy upgrades at Coventry College and Sidney Stringer School is from Great British Energy’s Mayoral Renewable Fund, which is helping to deliver its Local Power Plan to enhance energy security, reduce carbon emissions, and generate renewable energy in communities across the UK.

On 9 and 10 September, 2025, the WMCA’s Energy Capital team is hosting its autumn conference.

The conference will bring together regional and industry leaders to discuss progress being made in the region to deliver cheaper energy bills for residents and businesses, make energy supplies more resilient, and create thousands of new green jobs - as set out in the West Midlands Regional Energy Strategy.

Find out more about this work on the WMCA website.