We are excited to announce that our Solar Project, which has been in the works for the past two years, will come to fruition during the upcoming school holidays. This initiative is a significant step towards enhancing renewable energy sources for our school.
Led by Hannes Roos Head of Finance, our Sustainable Futures students and Carmelo Fedele Head of Sustainability, the Solar Project involves constructing a durable shade structure equipped with solar panels. These panels will convert sunlight into electricity using photovoltaic cells.
This project aligns with our strategic plan, addressing three key areas of action:
- Broaden our implementation of sustainable practices
- Secure, improve and expand the campus
- Nature the health and wellness of students and staff
The rooftop walkway of the Reg St Leon building, a thoroughfare and multi-purpose space with panoramic city views, can be quite hot in summer, and the concrete creates a glare during the day. This can mean the space is underutilised.
Pictured – a visual of the planned canopy.
The new shade structure will cover this walkway and the balcony of the level below, making the space more comfortable for students to use during the day. The new 39kW kW solar PV system will generate savings for the school, contributing 7.78% to annual energy costs and paying for itself in 7.5 years.
Following a rigorous tender process, the contract was awarded to Smart Commercial Solar. Established in 2012, Smart Commercial Solar is a recognised industry leader, helping businesses reduce energy costs, achieve sustainability goals, and modernise with solar. The installation will take place over a two week period during the upcoming break.
Pictured here – in our ‘before’ photos, Hannes and Carmelo survey the rooftop walkway where the new solar trellis will be installed in the coming weeks. We look forward to sharing images of the new solar panels in our next edition of InFocus.
THANK YOU
On Sharing Day last year, our community and generous matching donors raised crucial funds for this project. The improvement of this space will benefit students and staff who regularly use it, as well as our entire community, contributing to a more sustainable future for our planet. Thank you—this achievement would not have been possible without the immense generosity of our community.
For this project, IGS will also leverage government subsidies available in the form of renewable energy certificates. These subsidies are accessible to both individuals and organisations, including IGS, until 2030. For more information visit the Clean Energy Regulator website