There has been a huge uptake in solar panels in Irish schools, with more than two thirds of the 4,000 schools in the country either already installing solar panels, or having tendered for them.

The Department of Education confirmed the widespread success of the Solar for Schools Programme, which provides grant funding for schools to install up to 6kWp of solar PV, approximately 14 solar panels.

Since the launch of the programme more than 1,100 schools in the eleven first phase areas have received approval for their solar panels.

From those, more than 1,000 installations have been carried out so far in Clare, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Kilkenny, Leitrim, Limerick, Offaly, Waterford, Wicklow and the Dublin City Council area.

Following on from this runaway success the government approved funding last October for schools in all remaining counties and local authority areas to apply for the programme.

Since then over 1,660 schools from these areas have entered into the tender process to get solar panels of their own.

This brings the total number of schools at some stage of acquiring solar panels up to 69% of the 4,000 schools in the country.

The Solar for Schools Programme is open to all primary and secondary schools in the country, and offers full grant funding to cover the cost of solar panels for a system up to 6kWp in size.

A 6kWp solar PV system could save a school anywhere from €,1200 to €1,600 each year. Electricity generated by schools can also be used to power other homes in the area at times such as weekends and holidays when they are largely going unused.

On top of reducing their own electricity consumption, schools can be paid for the surplus electricity they sell back to the grid.

Minister for Education Norma Foley said, “It is fantastic to see the great appetite from our schools to join this rooftop revolution through the Solar for Schools Programme.”

“I was so pleased to be able to announce the nationwide extension of the Programme in October and it is wonderful to see over 1600 schools in these newly eligible counties applying.”

“This Programme offers an opportunity for schools to reduce their carbon emissions and to reduce their energy costs. A heartfelt thank you to those who have applied and to those who are still considering applying, we have designed it to be as simple as possible.”

When completed the overall programme will see up to 24 megawatts of solar energy capacity installed on schools, with associated savings in the region of €5.5 million per year across 4,000 schools.

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications Ossian Smyth said, “It is great to see the successful rollout of the Solar for Schools Programme across the country.”

“This programme is enabling schools to continue their green journey, protecting the environment, generating renewable electricity and seeing their electricity bills reduce.”