|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Local schools are among the first 500 nationwide set to benefit from the Solar on Schools programme.
Recipients in the Franklin Times coverage area are:Tuakau College, Mangatawhiri School, Patumahoe Primary, Pukekohe High School, Ramarama School, Kereru Park Campus and Glenbrook School.
The $30 million initiative, announced as part of Budget 2026, will lead to long-term savings, Education Minister Erica Stanford expects.
“By generating more clean, renewable energy on school rooftops, we can cut schools’ electricity use from the grid, reduce emissions and lower power bills at the same time,” she says.
“Large schools are expected to save around $8000 a year on average on electricity, freeing up money that can be spent on teaching and learning.”
The initial 500 have been chosen based on various factors regarding need – because they have higher energy costs, are scheduled for gas or diesel boiler replacements, or require greater energy resilience.
Some will also receive energy management systems and batteries, wherever they’re expected to deliver the greatest savings and community benefits.
Solar panels will be installed at the schools during the next three years. The programme makes use of existing buildings, reducing schools’ environmental footprints as well as helping them keep more money in their budgets, Stanford adds.
“It will give students a real-world example of renewable energy in action, right there at their own school,” she adds. “This is a smart, practical investment in our schools and New Zealand’s future.”
