Local school joins power pilot project

WILLOW Tree Public School has been selected to take part in an energy pilot project, where schools will receive solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and batteries to generate their own electricity and contribute to the state’s energy grid.

Twenty-five schools will participate in the Schools Renewable Energy Infrastructure Pilot Project, which is expected to generate 2,400,000 kilowatts of electricity per year.

The system sizes for that each school will receive is yet to be finalised, however at this stage it is estimated that a 30 kilowatt solar PV system will be installed at Willow Tree Public School, which equates to approximately 75 solar panels and would generate 46,000 kilowatt in the first full year of operation.

Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said the potential of the Schools Renewable Energy Infrastructure Pilot Project is limitless.

“In New South Wales, we have 2,200 public schools; combined they have a roof space of 8 million square metres. That is almost 2,000 football fields worth of space ready for power production,” Ms Mitchell said.

“By producing solar energy, schools will benefit from lower energy bills, and batteries will store any excess solar energy for later use or can be sold to the energy grid,” she said.

“We estimate the 25 schools will save $300,000 in power bills, money which can go back into education, and any unused power can go into the grid,” she said.

Willow Tree Public School is due for an electrical upgrade, which will be delivered through its participation in the pilot project.

Installation of  the solar PV system and batteries is expected to begin by the end of the year.

The following metropolitan and regional New South Wales schools have been selected to participate in the first stage of the pilot:

1. Black Springs Public School
2. Bowral Public School
3. Coraki Public School
4. Dorrigo Public School
5. Duri Public School
6. Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School
7. Gerogery Public School
8. Glenbrook Public School
9. Gulgong Public School
10. Gymea Technology High School
11. Kingswood Public School
12. Lake Munmorah Public School
13. Lyndhurst Public School
14. Lowesdale Public School
15. Mandurama Public School
16. Nemingha Public School
17. Sandon Public School
18. Stuart Town Public School
19. Vacy Public School
20. Walbundrie Public School
21. Wambangalang Environmental Education Centre
22. Wee Waa Public School and High School
23. Werris Creek Public School
24. Willow Tree Public School
25. Yarrowitch Public School