Government announces grants for EV charging in schools

This week the government announced new grants to help schools, colleges, nurseries, and academies to increase availability of EV charging facilities. The scheme, funded by the Department for Transport (DfT) and part of the Workplace Charging Scheme, will provide up to 75% of the cost to buy and install chargepoints. State-funded education institutions will be able to claim up to £2,500 per socket, up from £350 previously available, for up to 40 chargepoints.

The scheme, described as support for greener schools, could also help schools to generate revenue by allowing public access to these charging facilities.

Baroness Barran, the Minister for the School System and Student Finance at the Department for Education, remarked on the initiative as an opportunity for educational institutions to contribute to the public sector's sustainability efforts. Baroness Barran, said: “This is an exciting opportunity for schools across the UK to become part of an ongoing move towards a greener public sector. Schools engaging with this grant will be supporting the development of green infrastructure, helping to improve their local environments. Developing a greener education estate is a key element of our sustainability and climate change strategy. The expansion of this grant supports our ambition to improve the sustainability of our schools in the ongoing move towards net zero”.

The government has committed to reaching net zero by 2050 and reducing carbon emissions from public buildings by 50% by 2032. More than a third of public emissions come from schools, colleges, and universities and as 2032 draws closer they will increasingly be held to account. Indeed, the DfE has recently confirmed it will be releasing a roadmap for decarbonising the school estate in the coming autumn and schools are expected to have their sustainability leads in place this year.

With limited funding currently available for decarbonisation measures, the announcement of funding from the DfT is a welcome addition. We have experience in assisting schools and multi-academy trusts in installing EV charging points across their estates and would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

For more information on how EV charging points can be included as part of your energy efficiency and net zero strategy please get in touch at 0116 5070130 or email enquire@s2e.org.uk.