Don’t miss out on a National Solar Schools Program grant of up to $100 000!
The National Solar Schools Program helps Australian schools take practical action to tackle climate change by offering grants of up to $50 000 (GST exclusive) to install solar power systems. Multi-campus schools with
over 1000 students are eligible for up to $100 000 (this includes combined primary-secondary schools, even if they are co-located).
The grant is available once only to each school and as climate change funding legislation can change at short notice, schools should ensure they don’t miss out on this rare opportunity to secure assets that can save money, educate students and help sustain the environment.
Solar Power for Schools
National Schools Solar Program
The Australian Government is backing our schools in the fight against climate change. The National Solar Schools Program is giving Australian schools a head start in reducing their carbon foot print.
Solarwinds Australia is committed to helping South Australian schools provide a clean, green, environment for the children of the future, combined with a fun and educational program to teach children about reducing their carbon emissions.
The National Solar Schools Program is offering grants of up to $50 000 (GST exclusive) to help Australian schools take practical action to tackle climate change by installing solar power systems. Schools will be able to improve their energy efficiency as well as reduce their ongoing energy costs. In particular, for schools with a mains power supply, surplus electricity generated by solar power systems on weekends and during school holidays may be able to be sold back to the electricity grid for extra electricity and greenhouse savings.
The objectives of the National Solar Schools Program are to:
Allow schools to:
- generate their own electricity from renewable sources
- improve their energy efficiency and reduce their energy consumption
- adapt to climate change by making use of rainwater collected from school roofs
- provide educational benefits for school students and their communities
Our team at Solarwinds Australia can help you with the whole process of your photovoltaic power system installation. If you have any questions please contact our office on (08) 8262 4188 or email sales@solarwindsaustralia.com.
To start the process to receive funding under this scheme head to the Departartment of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts and register your school today. http://www.environment.gov.au/settlements/renewable/nationalsolarschools/
Steps for completing a National Solar Schools Project
Please note: Only school employees can register or submit a claim on behalf of their school.
Steps you need to take to complete a National Solar Schools project:
- You print and read the National Solar Schools Guidelines.
- You print and read the Registration Instructions.
- You complete a Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts General Registration and select a user name and password.
- You log in on the Department's Log In page and are taken to the Department's Grants Menu.
- You complete the National Solar Schools registration form and submit.
- They confirm that you are eligible to apply under National Solar Schools and accept your registration. They also confirm the amount of funding your school is eligible to claim.
- Once you have received confirmation of your eligibility, you will be able to log in on the Department's Log in page and download the Claim Form from the Grants Menu.
- You carefully plan your school's National Solar Schools project ensuring that you gain maximum value for money for your grant.
- You select the most appropriate quotes for your project but do not commit to any quote until you have a Funding Agreement with us in place. The quotes provide the information detailed in the Claim Form Instructions.
- You complete the Claim Form and submit it via the website. If you cannot submit the Claim, email it to the National Solar Schools Program at: nationalsolarschools@environment.gov.au. All Claim Forms must be submitted electronically. Postal copies will not be accepted.
- When your claim has been accepted you will be notified that a Funding Agreement is available.
- You log into the Log in page and download the Funding Agreement from the Grants Menu.
- You print and sign two copies of the Funding Agreement and mail them to the National Solar Schools Team.
- They countersign both copies of the agreement and return one to you. They will also deposit your grant into your nominated bank account.
- On completion of your project, you are required to submit a final report, including an installation report signed by your solar power system installer (if applicable).
National Solar Schools Hotline: 1800 703 831
Components of your school's grid connected photovoltaic power system:
A number of solar modules / panels- A mounting system
- A grid connected inverter
- A DCSVS monitoring system
- Environmental Instruments to measure irradiance, temperature, wind speed etc
- Cabling, switches, fuses and signage required by law
- A bi-directional electricity meter
How will our system work?
The solar panels produce DC electricity, the grid connect Inverter converts the DC to 240V AC which can then be used by your school to power lights, computers etc.
If your solar system is producing more power than your school is consuming, the surplus will be fed back into the mains power grid. A Bi directional meter measures how much electricity your school buys and sells. Your school will most likely sell excess power back over weekends and holiday periods.
With the smart monitoring system you can watch all aspects of the systems performance online with a fun and educational website. You can access live information like how much power the system has produced. The reduction in greenhouse gases, environmental conditions, compare your schools to others in Australia.
Why choose a Solar Winds Australia grid connect solar system for your school?
Australia is the luckiest country in the world. Our Geography gives us the opportunity to use the most natural, sustainable and clean energy in our schools – the energy from the sun.
We can educate the children of the future about renewable energy, and teach them to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, and the importance of minimising our carbon footprint.
Our committed team will offer on going support from site assessment to installation by fully qualified BCSE accredited electricians. We only use quality products approved by BCSE & listed on their website.
We have printed the information for the first two steps, and will help with every other step where possible.
Fun and easy to use monitoring system live in real time with lots of educational benefits.
Once the system has been purchased, electricity is generated from a free renewable resource - the sun. Reducing the running costs of your school.
The Federal Government is offering schools grants up to $50,000.00 to install solar power systems.
Sell excess electricity back to the mains grid for a premium price particularly over weekends and school holidays when your consumption is at a minium.
We supply a 25yr warranty on the output of the panels.
Sunskool™: Taking solar power from the rooftop to the classroom
A key aim of the NSSP is to educate future generations about renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Sunskool™ is a unique web-based solar monitoring system, developed in Australia by Storm Sustainability. It revolutionises the way renewable energy is visualised and understood both in the school and by the wider community.