More than 4300 solar panels have been installed at Bundaberg state schools to help slash electricity costs and cut carbon emissions.
That includes Kepnock State High School which had 570 solar panels installed, offsetting the costs of air conditioning and other energy costs in a $380,000 investment.
Kepnock State High School Principal Nicholas Howkins said the school was delighted with the new solar panels, which can generate an average of 790kW of power every day.
“Students can see that our school is contributing to the Government’s commitment to lowering our impact on our environment,” Mr Howkins said.
“Importantly, students in science and humanities classes can see the real-time impact that our ACES program delivers, as students study the benefits of solar power and the cost reduction to the school.”
Education Minister Grace Grace said the Advancing Clean Energy Schools (ACES) program was expanded in February 2022 and had exceeded targets to deliver more panels at more schools than originally planned.
“I am particularly proud that we exceeded our original target of 180,000 panels at 872 schools and have instead delivered 200,000 panels at 912 schools,” Ms Grace said.
Member for Bundaberg Tom Smith said the program was good news for schools and great news for the State Government’s renewable energy target.
“ACES is making a significant contribution to the Palaszczuk 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,” Mr Smith said.
“The 4300 panels in Bundaberg alone can generate around 6000 kW of electricity every day.”
Mr Smith said the completion of the ACES program follows the delivery of air conditioning for every classroom, staff room and library in Queensland state schools.
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That will save money for the school, and therefore taxpayers. Even better – most people underestimate how long solar panels last. Most have a 25 year guarantee that after 25 years they’ll still be producing 82%+ of their original power. There are 42 year old solar panels in California still producing over 80% of their original power. So it’s likely the kids at these schools will be sending their kids to the same school, with the same panels still working and saving the school and taxpayers significant amounts of money.