Te Papapa School leads the way with solar power
There’s been a buzz of interest in all things energy efficiency, resilience and savings at Te Papapa School in Auckland. Students have been learning about solar and the role it plays in our future. Projects on renewable energy have been completed, speeches written on powering the future and classroom discussions on how solar can help the environment.
Why? Because Te Papapa School is the first in the country to benefit from the Government’s Solar on schools programme. A new 32kW rooftop solar panel system and a 20kW battery energy storage system has been installed, providing clean energy for the school.
Te Papapa Principal Robyn Curry says, “It’s been an excellent learning experience for our students. Hearing talk about clean energy and the environmental benefits of solar has been awesome. And of course, we’re also looking forward to seeing our school’s power bill reduce as well.”
Solar panels at Tepapa School in Auckland
The Solar on schools programme is a partnership with the Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority (EECA). Over the next 3 years, around 500 schools in the programme will have solar panels installed, up to 150 schools will receive energy management systems, and selected schools may receive batteries where they provide the greatest resilience and financial benefits.
Schools have been prioritised for the programme based on factors such as their energy or fuel insecurity, higher energy costs, planned gas or diesel boiler replacement, resilience needs, and site suitability for solar installation.
Schools not included in the programme can still explore installing solar independently.
Visit our Solar on schools page to find out more about the programme, view the provisional list of eligible schools and access guidance about solar for all schools.