Mayor’s renewable energy revolution slashes bills and inspires students

A green energy upgrade scheme is helping pupils at a West Yorkshire primary school to learn more about what they can do to protect the environment.

Mayor Tracy Brabin today (Friday 6 November) visited South Parade Primary School in Wakefield, which has recently installed solar panels as part of a programme worth nearly £2 million.

The scheme is helping organisations lower their energy costs, demonstrating how technology is making the region greener and more resilient to the cost of living crisis.

Since installing the new energy saving measures, the school has cut its energy bills by £6,000 a year, with the money being reinvested into supporting pupils, prioritising staffing and improving its facilities.

The £1.7 million Mayor’s Renewables Fund has supported almost twenty organisations across West Yorkshire to become greener and cheaper to run, including police stations, park depots, and community facilities such as crematoriums, a plant nursery, and a stadium. Collectively, they are expected to save up to £200,000 annually on their energy bills.

The programme was delivered in partnership with the five West Yorkshire councils and West Yorkshire Police. It is a part of Great British Energy’s ‘Renewables Fund’ programme to empower Mayors across the country to build clean energy supply, helping to cut bills, grow local wealth and tackle the climate crisis.

West Yorkshire is a trailblazing example of what can be achieved when local and national partners work together to invest in communities and build stronger, greener communities.

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said:

“Energy bills continue to be at the forefront of everyone’s minds, so it’s only right that we continue to invest in organisations across West Yorkshire, helping them save money that can be reinvested into services people rely on.

“I was delighted to visit South Parade Primary School to see the impact this investment is having, from redirecting savings on energy bills back into the school, to inspiring young people to think about the role they can play in building a region that’s more resilient to future weather events.

“That’s why it’s vital we work with our partners to empower and equip young people with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed, particularly as we transition to a greener economy, ensuring no one is left behind.”

During the visit, Mayor Brabin met teachers and pupils to hear more about the impact the solar panels have had on the school. The schoolkids also took part in a discussion with Mayor Brabin, asking questions about issues that matter to them including climate change, the environment, and their future prospects.

The visit took place during Green Careers Week, which aims to raise awareness of how jobs are evolving as the region transitions to a net zero carbon economy by 2038.

Driving up work experience and creating connections between employers and young people is a key priority of the Mayor’s West Yorkshire Promise, which aims to help young people develop the skills and opportunities they need to thrive in the world of work.

Through its Green Innovators Primary Programme, the Combined Authority has worked with more than 5,000 young people across 30 primary schools in West Yorkshire, including South Parade Primary School.

The programme has helped pupils develop the skills they need to become the innovators of the future while introducing them to the opportunities available in the growing green economy. More than 80 local employers – including engineers, architects and NHS staff – have visited classrooms to provide pupils with real-world insight into a range of careers.

Schools were selected to help engage under-represented communities in the green economy, with nearly a third of participating schools serving communities where more than a third of pupils are eligible for free school meals.

Rebecca Hedges, Headteacher of South Parade Primary School, said:

“We’re incredibly proud that our solar panels at South Parade Primary are now generating around half of the electricity we use. We’ve already produced an amazing 34 megawatt-hours of clean electricity, helping us reduce our carbon footprint, lower our energy costs and help us to play our part in protecting the planet - something we are very passionate about.

“Our green agenda is about more than what we do today; it’s about showing our children how we can all make a difference and helping them grow up with a strong sense of responsibility for the world they will inherit.”

Pupils were invited to write to Mayor Brabin about environmental issues affecting their local area. More than 200 letters were received, with litter, planting more trees, protecting green spaces and safeguarding wildlife among the most common concerns raised. Pupils were also challenged to invent solutions to environmental problems in their local communities.

Their ideas included a robot made from recycled materials, litter transformed into planters, a wildlife identification app, a recycling rewards bin, and a machine that converts litter into reusable bags.

This has helped equip young people with the skills and awareness needed for West Yorkshire’s next generation to see it become net zero. A report published as part of the programme found that 95% of participating children said it helped them better understand the jobs they could do to help the environment. Before taking part, around one in five said they did not understand green jobs at all.

The programme also supports the ambitions of West Yorkshire’s first Local Nature Recovery Strategy, launched earlier this year. The strategy sets out plans to improve the region's resilience to climate change, restore habitats, and connect more people with nature.

A Year 5 pupil at South Parade Primary School said:

“The solar panels are really good and help keep our electricity working for less money.

“We have a screen in school where we can see how much electricity we are saving and this means that we are helping protect the world and all the animals and nature too.”