SCHOOLS across Northumberland are to get their own mini-wind turbines and eco-friendly heating systems as council bosses step up a £7m investment programme in renewable energy.

Solar panels have already been installed on the roofs of 89 schools as part of the drive to reduce the county’s carbon footprint and cut energy costs.

Now, as a new report reveals the panels are on course to save £66,000 a year from school energy bills, further measures are in the pipeline to continue the green revolution.

County Hall officials are assessing a number of school sites where it is proposed to build micro wind turbines to generate electricity.

The turbines will be paid for by the county council, which will benefit from the Government’s feed-in tariffs, with the chosen schools enjoying reduced energy bills.

And seven schools are to be included in a pilot scheme involving the installation of biomass boilers, which aims to further reduce carbon emissions and provide schools with a fuel source which is less susceptible to price rises.

The new plans are revealed in a report to next week’s family and children’s services scrutiny committee, which gives an update on the programme of installing solar panels in schools.

Almost two years ago, the authority revealed the £7m programme to fit photovoltaic panels to the roofs of 500 council-owned houses and about 130 schools and other public buildings. It was part of a commitment by the Liberal Democrat-led council to reduce its carbon footprint by 50% over five years.

The report to next week’s meeting, by property services business and change manager Peter Hately, says all of the county’s schools were considered for the solar panels programme.

However, some were found to be unsuitable for the technology and 89 have had the panels fitted.

Data suggests Ashington High and Northburn Primary in Cramlington could save up to £964 on their annual bill, and Shilbottle First School £321.

Mr Hately said: “Across the entire portfolio of school installations, we estimate annual generation of about 550,000 kwh, with potential savings based on previous assumptions in the region of £66,000 per annum.”

He said officers are drawing up further plans for the use of renewable energy in schools.

Last summer, it was revealed solar panels had been fitted to more than 600 homes, schools and community buildings, including houses managed for the council by Homes for Northumberland.