As part of the council’s commitment to combating climate change and making our area more sustainable, the council has been advancing the installation of photovoltaic (PV) panels across the school estate with almost half of our primary schools already seeing the benefits.

Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity, offering a clean, renewable source of power that can lower bills and reduce carbon emissions – embodying the theme of Earth Day 2025 – Our Power, Our Planet

Craigbank Primary School is one of the schools already taking a step in the right direction towards a sustainable future with 120 panels now installed on the roof of the school building which is estimated to be able to generate almost 40,000 kWh of electricity a year – enough to heat and light 15 average sized homes annually.

And Craigbank is not alone in adopting renewable energy technology as almost half of the council-run primary schools across South Lanarkshire now have PV panels installed, producing an estimated 1.5M kWh each year, helping to significantly reduce the council’s carbon emissions.

David Booth, Executive Director of Community and Enterprise Resources, said: “The increased installation of solar panels across the school estate marks more than just a shift to renewable energy – it’s a celebration of local skill and forward-thinking investment.

“The panels are installed in-house by electricians employed by the council, who were upskilled to meet the growing demand for solar technology.

“This is yet another great example of the council’s forward thinking to ensure that we meet the sustainability needs set out in the council’s Sustainable Development and Climate Change strategy.”