Solar Electricity for Schools and Community

Switch your school or community organisation on to Solar Power and convert the sun’s energy into a free and environmentally sustainable source of electricity.

An educational solar power system kit is also an invaluable resource for supporting renewable energy learning activities throughout a school's curricula.

How Does It Work?

Photovoltaic modules, or solar panels, are installed on a north-facing roof. The Solar panels produce direct current (DC) electricity that is transformed into 240 Volt alternating current (AC) electricity by an inverter, to run standard electrical equipment and to match the commercial power supply.

The school will continue to import electricity from the commercial electricity supplier and will offset consumption against the output of the solar power system. Meters show how much solar electricity has been exported to the grid and how much electricity has been imported from the grid.

Your school will have a valuable resource for teaching students about renewable energy while making a significant contribution to reducing the school's dependence on carbon producing coal-fired power stations.

What Will It Cost?

Approximate cost of an installed grid-connected solar power system including teaching resources such as data logging peripherals, software, student activities and teaching notes start as low as $8,750. Educational solar power kits can be customised to the needs of primary and secondary students.

Government Incentives

There are now financial incentives available through Renewable Energy Certificates, the Renewable Energy Buyback Scheme and Government rebate programs.  An increasing number of schools and community organisations are now taking  advantage of these incentives to incorporate awareness of renewable energy in school curricula whilst helping the environment by installing  solar power systems.

Renewable Energy Certificates

Owners of grid-connected solar power systems can generate Renewable Energy Certificates or RECs. These can be sold to large electricity suppliers to help them meet their obligations under the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target. The amount of RECs that you can create depends on several factors, including the size of the solar power system and the location of the system. A 1kW solar power system can potentially earn around $500 in RECs. For more information visit the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator website at www.orer.gov.au.

Rebate Programs

The Australian Greenhouse Office provides rebates to support the installation of solar power systems in schools and community organisations. For further information about solar power systems and the rebates available, visit the Australian Greenhouse Office website at www.greenhouse.gov.au.