Queensland’s Solar Schools Tender Kicks Off

A tender process has commenced for the Queensland Government’s $97 million Advancing Clean Energy Schools (ACES) program, which will see solar power systems installed on the rooftops of hundreds of schools.

State schools are one of Queensland’s biggest energy consumers, racking up more than $67 million each year in energy costs.

1,200 of Queensland’s 1,240 state schools already have small solar power systems installed, but with the cost of solar continuing to plummet there are opportunities to further reduce electricity bills through installing more capacity. ACES is expected to deliver an approximate 20 per cent reduction in total energy costs.

Of the $97 million committed over three years for ACES, $40 million has been earmarked for new solar systems and $57 million for energy efficiency measures. The program will be self-funded using savings gained from the reduction of energy costs.

The first stage of ACES will commence during the summer holidays in up to 210 state schools – 30 schools in each Department of Education region. Stages two and three will occur during 2019/20. In total, more than 800 schools will have work carried out under ACES and savings from the initiative will then be used for a similar program across the state’s remaining 400 or so schools.

As well as slashing energy bills and emissions of beneficiary schools, the program will have other positive impacts across communities.

“We know this program will have flow on effects for local economies as the contractors we employ will maximise local employment opportunities,” said Queensland Education Minister Grace Grace. “This project will support quality jobs and increase opportunities for apprentices and trainees as well as Indigenous employment and supplier participation.”

The Government is now calling for tenders to establish a Pre-Qualified Panel (PQP) of lead contractors. These partners will be responsible for:

• conducting energy efficiency assessments
• design, supply and installation of proposed solutions
• measurement and verification of savings
• operations and maintenance of systems and solutions.

Further general information on ACES can be viewed here and tender details are available on the Qtenders website.  Companies qualifying for the PQP will announced during Term 4.

Solar Subsidies For Australian Schools

4,897 Australian schools installed solar energy systems some years ago under the National Schools Solar program (NSSP) that provided $217 million to 5,300 schools for PV installations and other water and energy efficiency measures.

While the NSSP ended in June 2013, other schools have installed panels since with the assistance of Australia’s major solar subsidy, which can reduce the up-front cost of acquiring a commercial solar system by many thousands of dollars. Some have also engaged in various fundraising activities within the school community to help meet the non-subsidised portion of installation costs.