1 MW Solar for MK Schools

MK Community Energy is partnering with Solar for Schools to install 1 MW of solar in local MK schools over the next 18 months.

How your school will benefit:

Save money from day 1, and for the long-term!
All solar installation and operational costs covered by MK Community Energy.
Annual education programmes supported by Solar for Schools.
Inspiration for the next generation of STEM innovators and climate ambassadors.

Exciting news from July 2025:

Additional grant funding available for eligible schools

Thanks to our partners at Solar for Schools securing additional National Grid funding, eligible Milton Keynes schools* can now unlock greater financial benefits, including potential grants of up to £25k per solar project in addition to our existing offer for solar.

ACT NOW – Funds are allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Sign up your school for solar today!

What MK schools will do together:

Generate around 1 million kWhs of solar energy every year

Save 190,700kg of carbon from MK school emissions every year

Contribute to MK community benefit projects from surplus energy

Where to start

1. Sign up

A member of our team will be in touch within 72 hours to check your eligibility for our programme.

2. School analysis

We will ask you about your energy use and any plans that might affect the amount of energy you need. We will then analyse the results to find the best match of solar for your school.

3. School proposal

We will provide you with a tailored proposal outlining the immediate cost savings your school can achieve in year one, and across the lifetime of our solar agreement. This will include details on how the scheme will operate over time.

* From July 2025, each expression of interest will also be reviewed against National Grid’s grant eligibility criteria, which includes location, free school meal eligibility, environmental impact, and financial savings – in line with their aim to deliver positive social impact in areas of high economic deprivation.

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See what others are saying

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“It’s inspiring to see Radcliffe School leading the way in adopting community-owned solar in Milton Keynes. Transformative community energy projects like this are fantastic for many reasons – the benefits are local, it supports our schools and generates clean energy!

I look forward to working with MK Community Energy and Solar for Schools to ensure that more schools across Milton Keynes can follow in their footsteps.”

"The team were totally flexible and worked around us. Everything went smoothly and the children were just as excited as we were to see the panels go up on our roofs. It’s been a really positive journey for Shakespeare Primary School”

“It’s great that there are supportive organisations like this to help schools take such an important step. Learning about solar power and renewables not only equips these young people with valuable knowledge but also opens doors to exciting career opportunities in the growing renewable energy industry.”

"Both the assembly and workshops were expertly pitched for our students, and both were really enjoyed. The students who took part in the workshops were, literally, buzzing all day. Thank you and we look forward to you visiting us again".

"...This partnership between Milton Keynes Community Energy and Solar for Schools is a game changer for MK schools. Working with them has been straightforward, and the benefits are remarkable. With their help, we’re not only reducing our operational costs but also giving our students a unique opportunity to engage with renewable energy in a meaningful way - one that directly benefits our local community.”

Why this is good for MK schools

Hassle free

We make the process effortless for your school to go solar and become a recognised sustainability leader in MK.

MKCE creates community investment opportunities - JPG

Flexible finance

We handle the upfront capital costs, installation, and manage the solar PV system 24/7 so that you don't have to.

Local energy for local people - a circular community economy

Community benefit

With profits staying local, your school will be helping to fund MKCE energy programmes to reduce energy consumption and fuel poverty across MK.

Savings

You only pay for the energy you use, at a lower rate than the market price, reducing your school's long term operational costs.

Education

Year on year, your students learn about solar energy, sustainability, and climate change through monitoring the performance of your school's solar.

Frequently
asked questions

What does Milton Keynes Community Energy do?

Milton Keynes Community Energy (MKCE) installs and manages our community-owned solar. Founded in 2015, we operate 19 solar arrays across the city and have already generated around 3 million kWhs of solar energy.

We are a not-for-profit community benefit society, registered with the Financial Conduct Authority with the purpose of providing community-owned renewable energy projects and improve energy efficiency across MK. Our surplus is reinvested (by law) back into the Milton Keynes community.

Our community programmes focus on reducing energy use, saving energy costs and cutting carbon emissions. We do this through energy-saving initiatives such as our flagship programme Home Energy MK.

Our members are those that invest to provide the solar on behalf of the schools and other organisations. We are governed by a voluntary Board of Directors proposed and elected by those members.

What does Solar for Schools do?

Solar for Schools is a Community Benefit Society, a not-for-profit entity, registered with the Financial Conduct Authority, with the purpose of decarbonising society by funding solar and energy education in schools. Its shareholders or members are the schools it provides solar panels to. It is governed by a board of voluntary directors proposed and elected by the school members. Surpluses after paying back lenders are used for the benefit of the schools, by either providing further reductions to their electricity bill or additional learning equipment such as solar explorer kits. The CBS has raised over £6m to date, from nearly 1,000 individual bondholders, to fund over 15MW of solar power on over 150 schools so far.

How are students involved in the "1MW Solar for MK Schools" initiative?

Learning is brought to life for your students through practical, hands-on experiences delivered by our education partners at Solar for Schools.

Once your solar PV system is installed and operational, students can participate in interactive lessons and workshops that reveal how solar energy reduces their school’s carbon footprint and lowers energy costs.

Students are engaged with real-time data from your school’s community-owned solar PV system to give them a deeper understanding of renewable energy and its wider impact.

But the benefits of having your students involved doesn’t stop there… Solar for Schools teaching specialists are committed to supporting your school for the full 25-year lifespan of the system.

By learning about decarbonisation, students become ambassadors for change, inspiring parents and others to take action and further support our community energy initiatives in MK. The ripple effect of their advocacy can therefore amplify the system’s impact, achieving up to 10 times the carbon savings of the panels alone.

What are the benefits of MK Community Energy and Solar for Schools working together?

Milton Keynes Community Energy is partnering with Solar for Schools to run the “1MW Solar for MK Schools” programme. Both organisations are aligned in our values, principles and methods of operation. We will install community-owned solar offering cheaper, stable pricing for the long term for our schools.

The benefit of this partnership is that the surplus profits generated from MK schools programme will be reinvested in Milton Keynes. The programme will therefore benefit not just the schools involved, but also the broader community.

Solar for Schools is a national organisation with an excellent school education programme. All schools that sign up with us on this scheme will be able to take advantage of that.

My school is interested. Now what?

Register your interest

We are committed to protecting your personal information and handling it securely.
We never buy or sell personal data. By submitting this form, you consent to us using your contact details as outlined in our Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe from our emails at any time.