Official update on DfE pause on school solar rooftop leases with PPAs

DfE is approving projects so continue to apply!

The Department of Education is approving solar panel installations for PPA projects on school roofs and encourages organisations to continue to apply as normal.  You can find out how to apply on the government’s guidance website. See DfE’s ‘official lines’ below.

Earlier this year, the DfE paused these types of projects as it considered the implications of them being classed as ‘borrowing’ within Treasury rules. Following CEE lobbying and swift cross-departmental working the pause was lifted.

While this underlying question has not yet been resolved, CEE has regularly engaged with DESNZ and DfE on the issue, to help ensure that projects are able to go ahead in the short-term. We recently met with the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) who are working on measures that may provide a long term solution and are considering how to leverage private investment in decarbonising the public sector estate. We have met with James Murray MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury and have asked him formally to expedite Treasury’s dealings in this matter. His office is taking this forward. We have also invited him to visit community energy schools projects in his own constituency, when we will seek to turn him into a community energy champion within the Treasury. He is a Coop Party MP so will be predisposed to support our sector.

We appreciate that the pause on solar PPA projects with schools has been the cause of uncertainty for many community energy organisations and are working hard to make sure it is fully resolved. In the meantime, keep applying to do these projects.