PV panels installed at 13 Church schools

13 Church Schools, members of the Private Schools Association (PSA), participated in the Green Energy Schools project with the aim of reducing the schools' dependency and use of non-renewable energy sources.

This project, spread over a period of eighteen months (2012- 2013), involved the installation of Photovoltaic Panel arrays in 13 schools and the installation of Intelligent Lighting systems in three schools.

To date, the electricity generation of the Maltese Islands is almost entirely dependent on non-renewable (fossil) energy sources. This dependency has environmental and economic implications, affecting the quality of life of all.

Considering that one of the greatest sources of greenhouse gasses are the aerial emissions resulting from the generation of electricity, the installation of PV Panels and the use of Intellingent Lighting Systems will greatly reduce such emissions, contributing to a reduction in the school's carbon footprint.

The photovoltaic resource potential in Malta is substantial, particularly if one takes into account the roofs of large buildings such as schools.

Through the GES Project, 1,525 PV Panels have been installed on the roofs of the participating schools, generating a total of 622MWH of electricity annually.

Furthermore, the GES project has also tackled end-use energy efficiency through the installation of intelligent lighting systems, including light controllers and motion detectors, in 71 classrooms in three (3) different schools. Photovoltaic panels and ILSs will be reducing the amount of CO2 emissions by 512 tonnes per annum.