Minister for Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Water, Senator Penny Wong has just announced a new round of funding for the National Solar Schools Program.
Under the National Solar Schools Program (NSSP), grants of up to $50,000 ($100,000 for multi-campus schools) are available to eligible primary and secondary schools to install solar power and other renewable energy systems, along with rainwater tanks and other energy efficiency strategies.
$51 million in funding would be available to schools in 2010-11 according to Minister Wong.
Applications for the new funding will open tomorrow and close on 20 August 2010.
Minister Wong says that since the program began in 2008, approximate 6 MW of solar power systems have been installed in schools, which is the equivalent of meeting the electricity requirements of 1200 average Australian households daily.
The National Solar Schools Program was temporarily suspended last year when demand for the program outstripped the annual funding target.
Changes to this round of funding include applications being assessed on merit-based criteria, meaning schools will have to demonstrate value for money, environmental and educational benefits in their applications. Schools that have receive funding for solar power systems under any other Australian Government program since 1 July 2008 will now only be eligible for funding of up to $15,000.
National solar solutions provider Energy Matters states that interest in the leadup to this announcement has been strong and given the short application window, schools interested in installing solar power systems under the NSSP should register their interest as soon as possible. The company is offering schools solar power systems 9 – 18kW in size, along with other bonuses.
Further information on the National Solar Schools Program
