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 world, and Catholics in particular, “On the Care for Our Common Home” or ‘Laudato Si’ as it is called in Italian. Over the past few years, many of our schools and staff have examined the encyclical personally and corporately.

“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. Queensland-based commercial solar business, GEM Energy will deliver the solar installations. At this stage, batteries and solar panels have been installed at St Margaret Mary’s College, Hyde Park, Ryan Catholic College, Kirwan, Southern Cross Catholic College, Annandale 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.

“Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’, reminds us that we need to care for and embrace our environment and that we are all part of the solution. This investment we have placed in the project is not only the benefit of the schools, however to demonstrate to students and the community that we all have a part to play,” said Jacqui.

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 on non-renewable sources and our electricity costs. Our teachers, students and school communities are energised about this project and the savings to our energy costs will enable further investment into resources that support our students' education,” said Jacqui.