Three schools in the Dubbo electorate are part of an innovative new program being piloted to explore the potential for schools to use solar PV panels and batteries to generate electricity for themselves, and create enough to supply electricity to the state’s energy grid.
Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said Gulgong Public School, Stuart Town Public School and Wambangalang Environmental Education Centre are taking part in this pilot.
“This is a great initiative for NSW public schools and I am thrilled to know that our electorate will have three out of the 25 schools involved in the pilot,” Mr Saunders said.
“The pilot project will assess the benefits and costs of the large-scale implementation of solar PV systems and batteries, together with other initiatives that can reduce demand on the energy network.”
Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said the potential of the Schools Renewable Energy Infrastructure Pilot Project is limitless.
“In NSW, we have 2,200 public schools, and combined they have a roof space of 8 million square metres. That’s 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 it can be sold to the energy grid.
“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.”
“NSW is leading the country in school design, and this pilot project is one innovative way we are looking at powering, cooling and heating our schools.”