Wokingham gears up for school solar installs

Wokingham Borough Council has become the latest to embrace solar, pledging school installs during the next academic year.

Solar is to be installed on schools, libraries, leisure centres and other council-owned buildings, supporting Wokingham Borough Council’s goal of being carbon neutral by 2030.

The announcement comes after it recently joined the ranks of councils – as well as central government – in declaring a climate emergency.

Gregor Murray, executive member for climate emergency, said that obstacles such as the age and suitability of some buildings may prohibit some installations, but stressed that the council is committed to starting the project on time.

“I’m a passionate believer in local action to tackle climate change – we cannot and will not sit back and leave it to others.

“The climate emergency we face will hit our children the hardest – so it is somehow appropriate that one of our first acts after declaring an emergency will be to seek schools to be a part of the solution,” Murray continued.

There have been several announcements of school solar installs in recent months, with community co-op MaidEnergy announcing plans for ten installs on public buildings, including schools, and the Schools’ Energy Cooperative hitting its 50th school install.

Wokingham also isn’t the only council with solar on its radar. Northumberland County Council’s plans for an 800kW solar carport with battery storage has been given the go-ahead, with an aim of having it up and running in the summer of 2021.