School In Solar Leap

Hobart Mercury
Thursday 23/7/2009 Page: 34

OGILVIE High School students will soon be able to monitor the amount of energy the school generates through solar energy. The school is seeking a $50,000 grant to install solar panels as part of the Tasmanian Solar Schools Co-operative. Students will use equipment and software developed by innovative Tasmanian company Powercom Systems to monitor, in real-time, their energy usage and the amount of renewable energy being generated.

The Ogilvie system will consist of a 2.5kW solar panel system, inverter, wireless monitoring and web interface. Principal Judith Timbs said the program would benefit the environment and act as an important educational tool. The school is the first of 70 around the state which are set to receive solar equipment, funded by the Federal Government's National Solar Schools Program.