The Department of Education has announced that a record number of schools have had solar panels installed to help slash electricity costs and cut carbon emissions.
The Department said it was a result of the Advancing Clean Energy Schools (ACES) program, which was expanded in February and has exceeded targets to deliver more panels at more schools than originally planned.
Minister for Education, Grace Grace said the ACES program’s original target of 180,000 panels at 872 schools had been exceeded with 200,000 panels at 912 schools.
“This equates to a $26 million saving on energy bills every single year and is enough renewable energy to power 25,000 homes,” Ms Grace said.
“The ACES program is making a significant contribution to the Government’s 50 per cent renewable energy target by 2030, with the 200,000 solar panels on State school rooftops expected to generate an average of 280MW of electricity per day.”
The Minister said the completion of the ACES program followed the Government’s delivery of air conditioning for every classroom, staff room and library in Queensland State Schools.
Principal of Kelvin Grove State College, Llew Paulger said the school was delighted with its solar panels.
“These new solar panels will not only deliver significant energy savings for the college but will also allow us to redirect these savings into important teaching and learning activities that will benefit every student,” Mr Paulger said.
