A city empowered, a generation inspired

Imagine harnessing a resource as abundant as the sun – producing (almost) endless clean, green energy. Not just enough to power homes, but enough to energise schools, community hubs and even generate surplus energy that can be shared elsewhere.

And what if the next generations grow up seeing green energy like this as the norm? Not just something in textbooks or news headlines, but something they interact with daily – on their school roofs, embedded in their classroom curriculum and woven into their communities.

By making the most of Britain's unused rooftops, we can unlock the country’s true solar potential. 

Schools, homes, leisure centres and community buildings all hold the key to a cleaner, more sustainable future — one where local energy generation lowers costs, cuts emissions and empowers communities to take control of their energy use.

In Coventry, we’re not just making sustainability a priority, we’re making it a part of everyday life. Through our 15-year strategic energy partnership with the City Council, we’re helping to create a city where green energy isn’t just adopted but understood and embraced, shaping the way future generations think about energy from an early age.

Greener schools, smarter cities, brighter futures in Coventry Our new solutions-for-schools initiative isn’t just about installing power generating panels, it’s about rethinking how schools and other community buildings use energy. We’re working closely with the council to deliver a full package of solutions – heat pumps, solar panels, insulation, AI building controls, and more – all designed to decarbonise local communities and put people more in control of their power. And the potential is huge. Over time, we could reach more than 100 schools across Coventry, transforming how thousands of students experience and understand clean energy first-hand – where renewable energy isn’t a novelty but a daily reality – something they learn about in science lessons, see in action on their own school buildings, and grow up knowing as the norm. And the impact doesn’t stop at cleaner energy. Solar panels for example can become an anchor point for education, turning sustainability into a hands-on learning experience. Imagine students tracking their school’s energy generation in real-time, using data to explore maths and physics concepts, or seeing first-hand how renewable energy reduces carbon emissions. Lessons in climate science, engineering, and sustainable innovation become more than just theory and instead are a spark to curiosity, possibly inspiring future STEM careers in renewable energy and technology. By integrating sustainability into the curriculum, we might not just be cutting emissions but also creating the next generation of ‘green collar’ professionals who will drive the energy transition forward.

What if we scaled this up elsewhere?

School buildings are responsible for around 15% of the public sector’s carbon emissions, and there are more than 20,000 primary schools across the UK. If each one followed Coventry’s lead, the impact could be extraordinary.

In fact, since 2014 government guidelines set space requirements for new primary school buildings based on pupil numbers. Across the UK, with 4,563,551 primary school pupils, that adds up to approximately 1.6 million square metres — or 7.4 million square feet – of rooftop space, in theory. Now, imagine if that space was put to use with solar panels.

• Primary schools could generate enough clean energy to meet the electricity demands of 230,433 homes⁽¹⁾ across the UK, or power 144,333 EV chargers⁽²⁾ for a year
• If replicated nationwide, the project could prevent the release of 625,000 tonnes of CO₂ entering the atmosphere every year – equivalent to taking over a million petrol and diesel cars off the road⁽³⁾ - significantly reducing the UK’s reliance on fossil fuels while saving schools and local authorities millions on energy bills
• Schools could even feed excess energy back to the grid, turning classrooms into power banks that support their local communities

And beyond the numbers, there’s the long-term impact: a generation of children growing up with sustainability embedded in their everyday lives, shaping their future careers and choices.