Solar power coming to 40 schools in SA

Solar panels will soon be powering dozens of South Australian schools, with the state government set to invest $15 million on buying and installing them.

Dozens of South Australian schools will receive $250,000 grants from the state government to install solar panels and upgrade lights to LEDs.

Education Minister Susan Close says $15 million will be spent to help schools reduce their power costs and emit less carbon.

She says 40 schools will receive solar panels and another 200 will receive $25,000 grants to replace inefficient lights such as fluorescent tubes.

"This is the kind of investment which pays for itself in the long run," she said.

"This means schools can focus on support and programs for students rather than electricity bills."

She said the $2 million in savings each year would be shared among all of SA's public schools.

The move has been praised by solar and climate advocacy groups as another example of the state's leadership on renewable power.

"It will give students and local communities a taste of a future powered by clean energy," Dan Spencer from South Australian Solar Citizens said.

Installation of the new solar panels and LED lights will begin this year and is expected to create 38 jobs.


Share

1 min read

Published

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world