Offaly schools eligible for new Solar for Schools programme

Offaly Minister Pippa Hackett says it’s a sunny day for schools in Offaly as the county is included in the first phase of new Solar for Schools Programme.

The scheme will open to applications on a phased basis from  November 30 and will provide eligible schools with 6 kilowatts of roof-mounted solar PV, which equates to approximately 16 solar panels.

Minister Hackett confirmed that Offaly schools are included in the first phase of the programme.

Schools in eleven areas are invited to participate in the first phase: Clare, Donegal, Dublin City Council area, Galway, Kerry, Kilkenny, Leitrim, Limerick, Offaly, Waterford and Wicklow.

She said “The Department of Education will contact schools with details on eligibility and how to apply. I hope that all schools in Offaly will share my enthusiasm and that soon we will see Solar PV panels on the majority of our schools across the county.”

The scheme will be funded from the Government’s Climate Action Fund. Minister Hackett said “As a Green Party member of Government, I fully support this initiative as recognition that taking action on climate change is central to Ireland’s social and economic development.”

The solar PV panels in schools will also be connected to the electricity grid, so that the schools can generate income by powering other homes and businesses with clean energy when schools are closed at weekends and during school holidays.

Minister Hackett added “While the typical amount a school can save will depend on a number of factors, the estimate I have received is that a school with a 6 kW Solar PV installation could expect to save in the region of €1,200-€1,600 per annum on their bill, when the money they’ve earned for selling electricity to the grid is taken into account.

“Monitoring software will also be provided to each school, and I believe this will be a great subject for discussion for both staff and students.  I see this scheme as having the potential to inspire pupils to bring home what they have learned to their parents about the benefits of PV panels.”

The first phase will open for applications on November 30-. All schools in the first phase, as Offaly is, will be contacted by the Department and invited to apply from that date. School authorities will be provided with funding from the Department of Education to have the PV panels installed by a registered contractor, with guidance from the Department.

Minister for Education Norma Foley and Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, Ossian Smyth, today launched the commencement of the first phase of the Solar for Schools Programme.

Minister Foley said: "I am delighted to launch the Solar for Schools scheme today. It will allow up to 4,000 schools nationwide to get solar PV panels to reduce their energy bills and their carbon emissions. This ties in with the strong ethos of environmental awareness and climate sustainability among our students and the wonderful work they do in this area, most notably with the Green Flag initiative."

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications Ossian Smyth attended the launch and said: “It’s great that schools around the country will now see their electricity bills drop while doing their bit for the climate. Even when the school is closed for the holidays, they will earn money by selling the power they generate back to the grid.

“When I recently visited a school that had solar panels installed, there was huge interest from the students. Each school will have a display screen to let staff and students know how much power is being generated. I am also delighted that teaching materials will be offered to schools so that students can learn about solar power.”

School authorities will be provided with funding from the Department of Education to have the PV panels installed by a registered contractor, with guidance from the Department.

The new scheme is designed to be as streamlined as possible for schools using an online system to facilitate communications with schools. In this regard the Department of Education has set up School Hub, a new online platform which is part of the Department’s geographic information system (GIS).

Schools will be required to get three quotes from suppliers and submit to the Department of Education via the School Hub for review.

The exact budget for the scheme is not being released because it is commercially sensitive.

Some schools may not be able to avail of scheme funding immediately due to infrastructure that is not compatible with the new technology solar panels; this may include incompatible roofs or electrical systems.