Western Australian public schools are set to benefit from the fourth round of the state government’s Schools Clean Energy Technology Fund, as announced by Education Minister Dr Tony Buti.

This initiative aims to reduce energy costs and enhance energy efficiency in schools through clean energy solutions, including solar panels and energy-saving technologies.

The latest funding round will focus on solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and light-emitting diode (LED) lighting upgrades.

This builds on previous rounds where 240 schools have already received upgrades.

In the earlier rounds, 84 schools received solar PV systems in the first round, 96 schools in the second round, and 60 schools received LED lighting in the third round.

This initiative is part of a broader effort to align with the Western Australian Climate Policy and supports existing programs such as the Solar Schools Program and Synergy’s Virtual Power Plant Program.

The program also aims to provide STEM learning opportunities for students and teachers, helping them gain new skills and understand the benefits of renewable energy and technologies.

Education Minister Dr Tony Buti expressed his enthusiasm for the program, stating: “I am pleased that additional WA public schools will be able to reduce their energy use as part of this program. Clean energy solutions are an important investment, and we continue to provide these opportunities for schools to lower the impact on the environment and help students understand the benefits of renewable energy and technologies.”

Energy Minister Reece Whitby also highlighted the significance of the program, saying: “This is an important program that allows many of our schools to run off cheaper, cleaner, and more efficient energy sources. It will also make the local electricity grid more stable and reliable and assist in our transition towards a cleaner energy future.”

The Schools Clean Energy Technology Fund, with a budget of $44.6 million, demonstrates the government’s commitment to renewable electricity and aims to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.