{"id":22956,"date":"2018-07-23T06:19:01","date_gmt":"2018-07-22T19:49:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/?p=22956"},"modified":"2018-07-23T06:19:01","modified_gmt":"2018-07-22T19:49:01","slug":"queensland-solar-schools-aces-mb0676","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/queensland-solar-schools-aces-mb0676\/","title":{"rendered":"Queensland’s Solar Schools Tender Kicks Off"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Queensland<\/p>\n

A tender process has commenced for the Queensland Government\u2019s $97 million Advancing Clean Energy Schools (ACES) program, which will see solar power systems installed on the rooftops of hundreds of schools.<\/p>\n

State schools are one of Queensland’s biggest energy consumers, racking up more than $67 million each year in energy costs.<\/p>\n

1,200 of Queensland’s 1,240 state schools already have small solar power systems installed, but with the cost of solar<\/a> continuing to plummet there are opportunities to further reduce electricity bills through installing more capacity. ACES is expected to deliver an approximate 20 per cent reduction in total energy costs.<\/p>\n

Of the $97 million committed over three years for ACES, $40 million has been earmarked for new solar systems and $57 million for energy efficiency measures. The program will be self-funded using savings gained from the reduction of energy costs.<\/p>\n

The first stage of ACES will commence during the summer holidays in up to 210 state schools – 30 schools in each Department of Education region. Stages two and three will occur during 2019\/20. In total, more than 800 schools will have work carried out under ACES and savings from the initiative will then be used for a similar program across the state’s remaining 400 or so schools.<\/p>\n

As well as slashing energy bills and emissions of beneficiary schools, the program will have other positive impacts across communities.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know this program will have flow on effects for local economies as the contractors we employ will maximise local employment opportunities,” said<\/a> Queensland Education Minister Grace Grace. \u201cThis project will support quality jobs and increase opportunities for apprentices and trainees as well as Indigenous employment and supplier participation.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Government is now calling for tenders to establish a Pre-Qualified Panel (PQP) of lead contractors. These partners will be responsible for:<\/p>\n