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SOLAR ENERGY & WIND POWER

Solar Power for Schools & Community Buildings

Make the switch to Solar Power - you can use solar energy sources to generate electricity in conjunction with your current electricity grid connection.

The sun delivers a free and enviornmentally sustainable source of energy to the Earth. Solar panels, or photovoltaic modules, convgert radiation from the sun into electricity. Solar panels have no moving parts and can be easily fixed to the roof of one of your buildings!

Installing solar system on schools help students to learn about renewable energy and energy efficiency and the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Solar power systems will enable schools to generate some of their own electricity needs and reduce their consumption of fossil fuels

• Complete and return questionnaire to request a site inspection
• Design your own solar system online

Federal PVRP rebates for schools and community buildings

Part of the ALP's plan for Australia's future, is a promise to increase the federal rebate associated with solar power systems beyond what is detailed in the Energy Matters Solar in Schools brochure.

Consequently, we are encouraging schools to obtain a free Energy Matter's Solar in Schools consultation in relation to installation of solar power systems. After all, Kevin Rudd has promised that every Australian school will be a solar school within eight years.

Under this initiative, the Rudd Labor Government made an election promise that will allow all Australian schools to apply for:

1. Grants of up to $20,000 to install 2 kilowatts of solar panels to provide average greenhouse gas savings of up to 2.8 tonnes per year.

2. Grants of up to $30,000 to install efficiency improvements so schools can invest in energy and water measures including rainwater tanks, solar hot water systems and lighting upgrades.

However, existing Federal Photovoltaic Rebate Programme Guidelines for Schools and Community Buildings Grants is summarised below.

Competitive grants are available under the Schools and Community Buildings component of PVRP. Grants are available for up to 50 percent of the cost of the photovoltaic system, with an upper limit of two kilowatts.

If a larger system is proposed for installation, grant level will be determined at 50 percent of the cost of two kilowatts (as a proportion of the cost of the whole system).

The grants are being offered on a competitive basis which means that applications will be assessed on value for money and on the educational and interpretive merits of the proposal. Assessment of educational merit will be based on details provided by the applicant of the education, extension, promotion, interpretation and demonstration activities to be undertaken. A scoring system is used to assess applications and determine eligibility for the grant.

Applicants must be able to demonstrate that the person who carries out the photovoltaic installation is BCSE accredited (full or provisional) for design and installation of photovoltaic systems, such as Energy Matters!

For the purposes of this programme, eligible community organisations are either government-owned or not-for-profit organisations. If they are non-government, they must be incorporated. Commercial enterprises are not considered to be eligible community organisations for the purposes of the PVRP, but may support an eligible partner in their application.

Please see the School and Community PVRP solar rebate guidelines or School and Community PVRP solar rebate application form for more information.

State Rebates for schools and community buildings

Victorian schools are also entitled to an additional rebate under the Sustainability Victoria solar in schools initiative of $3 per watt installed (sliding scale from $3000 to $15000).

Based on Energy Matters pricing (subject to site inspection), example under current programs set-up prior to Rudd Labor Government, are as follows:

Please see theVIC solar in schools application package (doc) for more information into the Sustainability Victoria program.

West Australian schools are eligable to a $5.1 million program, which will see over 350 metropolitan and regional schools harness the power of the sun by 2010. For solar power systems up to 1.05kW in size, schools contribute $1,000 towards the cost of the system, with the balance being met through the Solar Schools Program. Please see the WA solar in schools guidelines (pdf) and WA solar in schools application form (pdf) for more information into the Sustainability Victoria program.

Surplus electricity generated on weekends and school holidays can be sold back to the electricity grid for further electricity and greenhouse savings. Solar Schools' power systems will be compatible with any existing school solar power system, such as those provided under State and Territory Government solar energy programs (ie. Victorian Solar in Schools rebate of up to $15,000), and will be expansion-ready should a school wish to install additional solar panels.

• Complete and return questionnaire to request a site inspection
• Design your own solar system online

Please call the Energy Matters Solar in Schools and Community buildings hotline on 03 9697 1902 if you wish to arrange a free no-obligation consultation, or contact Energy Matters.