Green power is coming to Coastal Lakes College in Lakelands, Comet Bay Primary School and Baldivis Secondary College, along with seven other schools across the state, as part of the State Government's WA Recovery Plan.
The 10 schools will be transformed into smart, green Virtual Power Plants (VPP), receiving commercial batteries and solar panels.
These batteries will enable schools to store their excess energy for later use, which will assist with grid stability.
A VPP is a network of distributed energy resources such as rooftop solar panels, batteries and electric vehicles that are 'aggregated' and shared with an energy retailer.
Using Virtual Power Plants mean there is less reliance on traditional generation assets such as coal or gas, which is a step towards a more sustainable power system.
Making the announcement on September 2, were Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery and Energy Minister Bill Johnston.
"This pilot program will benefit schools, and at the same time create new jobs and teach new skills to build our future electricity system," Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery said.
"It will also provide an opportunity to further science, technology, engineering and mathematics education for students."
The other schools participating in the VPP pilot project include:
- Belridge Secondary College;
- Rossmoyne Senior High School;
- Butler College;
- Success Primary School;
- Gilmore College, Orelia;
- Joseph Banks Secondary College, Banksia Grove; and
- Kalgoorlie-Boulder Community High School.
The schools, located in the South West Interconnected System, were determined by Synergy and the Department of Education based on operational, customer, system and technical considerations.
This initiative forms part of the McGowan Government's Distributed Energy Resources Roadmap - for transitioning towards a cleaner, energy future.
The $4 million investment forms part of the McGowan Government's $66.3 million renewable energy technologies package from the WA Recovery Plan, which will boost innovative, clean energy projects throughout WA.
"Western Australian schools will become Virtual Power Plants, highlighting the integration of rooftop solar, batteries and other small-scale technologies into our power grid," Energy Minister Bill Johnston said.
"The Virtual Power Plants will make the local electricity grid more stable and reliable, and assist in the transition towards a cleaner energy future."
For more information, visit https://www.synergy.net.au/Our-energy/For-you/Virtual-Power-Plant
