Adam Rorris from the the Centre for Policy Development has urged the NSW Government to consider investing approximately $40 million a year over three years to convert its public primary schools to 100% solar power.
While the National Solar Schools Program offers a $50,000 grant to schools for solar panel based systems, the average primary school of 300 students would need about $120,000 to make a full conversion to solar power according to Mr. Rorris, who also pointed out that savings from such an initiative will grow significantly over time as the real cost of electricity rises.
Schools provide an excellent platform for the installation of solar farms given their ample roof space. Grid connect systems can be easily integrated into a school’s existing electricity infrastructure and can also generate revenue through feed in tariffs.
The addition of a solar power system to a school provides an excellent hands-on education opportunity for students on the topic of renewable energy and sends a strong single to the wide school community about environmental stewardship.
The current solar schools grant initiative has been very successful, with 4966 schools around Australia already registered for the NSSP. However, in NSW, not a single public school has been fitted with solar panels under the program, because the State Government has insisted on a centralised tendering process. In other states, schools can choose their own provider providing eligibility criteria is met.
Under the National Solar Schools Program, nearly every school in Australia is eligible for a solar power system – at no cost to the school whatsoever. The grant for the installation of grid connected solar power is doubled in the case of dual campuses, reaching up to $100,000 and further funding may also be available at a state level.
