Solar system powers up classroom and students

Townsville Bulletin
Friday 2/3/2007 Page: 3

TOWNSVILLE State High School practises what it preaches when it comes to teaching kids how to save the environment.

A remote power system installed at the front of the school is now powering the lights in nearby classrooms The hybrid Remote Area Powers System (RAPS) comprises a solar array pyramid to capture the sun's energy, a 6m tower supporting a wind turbine, a generator and a fully automated wireless weather station.

Science department head Dale Collins said the electrical energy produced from the sun and wind powered the lighting and appliances in a nearby classroom. "On a sunny day in Townsville, the solar arrays and turbine produce about 16 kilowatts of electrical energy which equates to the daily energy usage of a small non-airconditioned unit," Mr Collins said.

"That is 16kg of carbon dioxide that we have saved by using alternative energy instead of fossil fuels." Mr Collins said the school hoped to educate students on the use of solar and wind as alternatives and how this helped reduce global warming.

"Students are inspired by the fact that they can now watch a video or Powerpoint presentation on renewable energy sources from machines that are themselves powered by the sun and wind." He said the school was indebted to the support of the Barrier Reef TAFE, Xstrata and the other organisations which sponsored the project.