Investment in solar benefiting the students of tomorrow TCE Sustainability Officer, James Brunker and St Anthony’s Catholic College Principal, Barry Horner
In 2015, Pope Francis wrote to the
Queensland-based commercial solar
to students and the community that we
world, and Catholics in particular, “On
business, GEM Energy will deliver the
all have a part to play,” said Jacqui.
the Care for Our Common Home” or
solar installations. At this stage, batteries
‘Laudato Si’ as it is called in Italian.
and solar panels have been installed at
Over the past few years, many of our
St Margaret Mary’s College, Hyde Park,
schools and staff have examined the
Ryan Catholic College, Kirwan, Southern
encyclical personally and corporately.
Cross Catholic College, Annandale
“We are reminded that human beings are part of nature, and together with other creatures, bonded in one family, one community of life on earth,” said Jacqui Francis, Executive Director. Townsville Catholic Education’s solar project is a major step towards a 100% renewable energy future for our schools. The third stage of the solar project commenced at the end 2020, which will see over 4,000 kWs of solar panels and 7,000 kWs of Tesla battery storage installed across the diocese.
and St Anthony’s Catholic College, Deeragun. It is anticipated that most of these sites will progressively come online during the school holidays. GEM Energy will continue to roll out this solar project across our other sites over the next 12 months.
This project has allowed our Catholic schools to include practical reallife examples of renewable energy generation to be included in students’ curriculum. Students are learning about our collective responsibility to care for creation through sustainable solar projects and battery storage. They are seeing firsthand how the decisions we make today have an impact on the future. “This project will see a reduction in grid sourced energy, reducing our reliance
“Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’, reminds us
on non-renewable sources and our
that we need to care for and embrace
electricity costs. Our teachers, students
our environment and that we are all part
and school communities are energised
of the solution. This investment we have
about this project and the savings to
placed in the project is not only the benefit
our energy costs will enable further
of the schools, however to demonstrate
investment into resources that support our students' education,” said Jacqui.
TCE Finance Manager, Chris Watts and Southern Cross Catholic College Principal, Greg Cameron with students
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