Ausgrid helps Sydney schools go solar and save

7 August 2020

A program to help fund Sydney schools to go green, switch to solar power and save has kicked off with the first panels installed in Concord West. 
 
Ausgrid has partnered with the Solar my School program to help eligible public and private schools across 15 suburbs across the City of Sydney and the City of Canada Bay to go solar and save up to 30% on their energy bills while avoiding 22–110 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year. 
 
Victoria Avenue Public School in Concord West has installed a 30kilowatt system consisting of 100 solar panels, which is expected to save the school $6,000 a year in energy costs and reduce its emissions by 36 tonnes a year. 
 
Chief Customer Officer Rob Amphlett Lewis said Ausgrid is proud to be part of a program which helps schools become more sustainable. 

Solar my School’s Program Manager Anthony Weinberg said schools are ideal sites for solar. 
 
“Schools have large, often-unshaded, roof spaces, high daytime electricity demand, long tenure and a commitment to educating their students about positive environmental action.  
 
“With solar, schools can power their learning facilities with locally produced clean energy, reduce their consumption and energy bills and cut their carbon footprint,” Mr Weinberg said.  
 
Solar my School was jointly founded by Waverley, Woollahra and Randwick Councils to help schools install solar power. 
 
The NSW Department of Education provided half of the funding for the solar project and a $20,000 Community Building Partnerships Grant with the Canada Bay Council also providing technical support. 
 
This initiative is part of Ausgrid’s commitment to sustainability and our aligned UN Sustainable Development Goals – 11 Sustainable cities and communities; 7 Affordable and clean energy; and 13 Climate action. 

Find out more about the project here: Solar and Lighting Upgrades

An aerial view of new solar panels installed at Victoria Avenue Public School in Concord West.