Great British Energy has awarded awarded mayoral authorities a share of £10 million in grant funding to roll out clean energy projects at the centre of communities.

The funding will enable community services and institutions to save on energy bills and reinvest into frontline services.

It is estimated these schemes could produce around £35 million of lifetime savings on energy bills.

The funding will pay for solar panels on public buildings, batteries for community buildings and EV chargers.

Great British Energy has already installed solar panels on 11 schools as part of plans to install on 200 schools and 200 hospitals.

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority will use the investment to fund a rooftop solar project to support care homes and leisure centres, cutting  around £4.6 million on lifetime energy bills.

Greater Manchester also has plans to roll out rooftop solar on libraries, fire stations, police stations and sports centres, with estimated savings of over £2.1million on lifetime bills.

Meanwhile projects in York and North Yorkshire, including solar panels to help power an Edwardian swimming pool in York and leisure centres in Whitby, Ripon and Thirsk, are estimated to bring around £4 million in lifetime bill savings.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: "Your local sports hall, library and community centre could have their energy bills cut by Great British Energy, the government’s publicly-owned clean energy company.  

"Our plans will mean more money can be spent on the services that make working people better off and help strengthen the ties that bind us in our communities.  

"This is what Great British Energy is all about - taking back control to deliver lower bills for good."

Great British Energy CEO Dan McGrail said: "Today’s support for new clean power projects in every region in England shows our mission in action - providing a lasting positive impact for the country by creating new jobs, lower bills, and a cleaner future.

"It’s important that communities feel the benefits of the energy transition and that we demonstrate the very real rewards it can bring."