Minister for Education Norma Foley has urged schools in Kerry to apply for solar panel grants to reduce their energy costs and their emissions.
The solar for scheme will provide eligible schools with 6 kilowatts of roof-mounted solar PV, which equates to approximately 16 solar panels.
Kerry is one of the 11 counties in the country in the first phase of the Solar for Schools scheme.
Contacting Kerry’s 161 Schools
The Department of Education is contacting Kerry’s 132 primary schools, 26 secondary schools and three special schools to encourage them to apply.
Minister Foley said: I hope that as many schools as possible in Kerry apply for this scheme to reduce their energy costs and their carbon emissions.”
Minister Foley said that the installation of solar panels would allow schools to make savings on their energy bills every year.
“It will significantly reduce costs for schools by between €1,200 and €1,600 euro per year if they have 16 solar PV panels installed,” she said.
Schools to Generate Income
The solar PV panels in schools will 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 Foley said that schools can apply for the scheme quickly and easily online using the new School Hub system, once they get three quotes from solar PV contractors.
“It is our absolute intention that it will be very much a user friendly application process. So for the very first time, we’re using our geographic information system as a means for schools to liase wit hthe department. There will be very little time required for an online application and it should proceed very quickly,” she said.
Registered Installers
Schools 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 of Education.
The rollout will begin in 11 counties – Kerry, Clare, Donegal, Galway, Kilkenny, Leitrim, Limerick, Offaly, Waterford, Wicklow and the Dublin City Council area in Dublin.
The intention is to include a further eight counties in phase two in Q2 2024 and the remaining eight counties in Q4 2024. It is intended that all eligible schools across the country will have the opportunity to apply to the scheme by end 2024.
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