Sydney Catholic schools install 1.3MW “power generator” worth of solar

One Step Off The Grid

A 1.3MW “power generator” worth of rooftop solar is set to be installed across 19 Catholic schools in Western Sydney, in a bid to cut their grid power supply by 25 per cent and save a collective $1 million a year on energy costs.

The solar rollout, led by energy services firm Verdia, will install 4,286 solar panels, as well as 16,942 LED lights, as part of the Catholic Education Diocese Parramatta energy efficiency program.

The solar and energy efficiency program, launched to coincide with World Environment Day, was officially kicked off at Gilroy College in Castle Hill, with the commissioning of that school’s 92kW PV system.

Nine more of the primary and high schools have also completed their solar and light installations, while a remaining nine are due to be generating their own solar power before the start of the 2020 school year.

Catholic Education Diocese Parramatta executive director Greg Whitby said the program would not only save money for the schools, but offer students a working demonstration of the sustainable generation of power.

“Our energy bills have increased by about 30 per cent over the past three years and that’s money we would rather invest in the education of our students,” Whitby said.

To read the full story on RenewEconomy sister site, One Step Off The Grid, click here…