A school powered by the sun – and caring for its community

“The most important part of the project for us is being able to help families in this area of disadvantage reduce their bills, so they can stay warm for less money.” – Matt Hipperson, Headteacher of St Luke’s CEVA Primary School, Canning Town.

For many families in Newham, rising energy costs aren’t an abstract issue, they’re a part of life. So, when St Luke’s CEVA Primary School in Canning Town began exploring renewable energy, it wasn’t just about sustainability. It was about supporting their community.

We know the transition to a greener future must work for everyone, and that starts by listening to the places we serve and backing projects that deliver real value in our communities today, not years from now.

Schools do more than educate; they anchor and empower communities. They are where young people begin to understand the challenges our planet faces and develop the skills and motivation to tackle them. St Luke’s is one of those schools: a space where children learn not only about the world, but how to shape it.

So, alongside the affordability focus, sustainability has moved from being a future ambition to a shared responsibility. New voices have joined the conversation and fresh ideas are shaping how we think about the world we want to live in.

That’s why inspiring and supporting young people early on matters. By building knowledge, confidence and opportunity from the start, we can help empower the next generation to drive real change and make sustainable energy a reality for everyone.

Our partnership with St Luke’s, a vital church and community hub in the heart of East London, turns this into reality by funding and installing solar panels on the school’s roof. The clean electricity generated is used on-site, with surplus power exported to the local grid, providing discounts on bills for E.ON Next customers nearby.

Why did St Luke’s go solar?

Matt Hipperson, Headteacher of St Luke’s, is clear the decision was driven by purpose as well as practical considerations. While the initial focus was on making the school more sustainable, it quickly became about something bigger: supporting the local community.

“What this means is we can generate electricity which we can then export to the community grid here, which means that people’s utility bills will come down,” said Matt. “And that is vital for a lot of our families. The most important part of the project for us is being able to help families in this area of disadvantage reduce their bills, so they can stay warm for less money.”

Young people making a difference

Sustainability isn’t new to life at St Luke’s. Pupils run an eco‑committee ranked among the top 100 eco flag schools in the UK. They’ve produced YouTube content, appeared in national media and advised other schools on reducing their environmental impact.

The new solar panels also turn the school into a living example of renewable energy in action. Students are seeing first-hand how sustainable solutions work and the role they can play in shaping a greener future.

Inspiring and supporting young people in schools’ matters. Through programmes like our New Energy Academy, E.ON is helping turn ambition into action. This free, curriculum-linked initiative provides engaging resources and hands-on activities to spark curiosity about sustainability and future green careers in the energy transition - empowering students and their teachers alike.

Education is only the starting point. Real change happens when learning is translated into action.

The future

Our project with St Luke’s has shown what’s possible if schools, energy companies, policymakers and communities work together.

It is more than simply about supporting one school or community, the St Luke’s project is a scalable model towards a fairer, greener and more affordable future for everyone. It’s a pilot for future change that can help communities all over the country.