GBE Cuts Energy Bills for Community Facilities in UK

Great British Energy (GBE), the government’s publicly-owned clean energy company, on Thursday said that it has awarded mayoral authorities a share of $13.40 million in grant funding to roll out clean energy projects at the centre of communities including rooftop solar on Merseyside care homes and on leisure centres and libraries in Yorkshire. 

These grants will mean that the community services and institutions that working people use will be able to save on their electricity bills and spend more money on the frontline services that strengthen local communities and boost local economic growth. 

It is estimated that these schemes could produce a total of around $46.89 million of lifetime savings on energy bills, while improving energy security and creating good jobs.  

As well as solar panels on public buildings, the grants will pay to install batteries for community buildings in areas including Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire, so they can store renewable energy and use it later.

The grants will also fund EV chargers in Greater Manchester, to make it easier for drivers to benefit from cheaper to power electric vehicles, the UK government said.  

Interestingly, GBE is already cutting energy bills for public services, with solar panels already installed on 11 schools as part of plans to roll out the panels on around 200 schools and 200 hospitals in England.

Clean Energy by 2030

The government’s clean energy superpower mission will protect billpayers, create jobs and bring greater energy security through delivering clean power by 2030 and GBE will accelerate this by developing, investing and building clean energy projects across the UK.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said that the local sports halls, libraries and community centres could have their energy bills cut by GBE.

The government’s plans will mean more money can be spent on the services that make working people better off and help strengthen the ties that bind us in our communities. 

GBE CEO Dan McGrail said that today’s support for new clean power projects in every region in England shows their mission in action providing a lasting positive impact for the country by creating new jobs, lower bills, and a cleaner future.

“It’s important that communities feel the benefits of the energy transition and that we demonstrate the very real rewards it can bring. Earlier this year, all Mayoral Strategic Authorities were invited to submit expressions of interest for funding renewable energy projects that can be delivered in the 2025/2026 financial year,” he said. 

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority will use the money to support a rooftop solar project to support care homes and leisure centres, cutting around $6.16 million on lifetime energy bills, while Greater Manchester will also roll out rooftop solar on libraries, fire stations, police stations and sports centres, leading to estimated savings of over $2.81million on lifetime bills.

Projects in York and North Yorkshire are estimated to bring around $5.36 million in lifetime bill savings, they include solar panels to help power an Edwardian swimming pool in York and leisure centres in Whitby, Ripon and Thirsk.

It may be recalled that the government has announced in March to award $241.16 million of funding for schools and hospitals to install rooftop solar, marking the first major project for GBE, a company owned by the British people, for the British people.

 This could see millions invested back into frontline services, targeting deprived areas, with lifetime bill savings for schools and the NHS sites of up to $535.91 million over the next 30 years.