Here are some completed projects:

Navakawau Catholic School

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Cyclone Winston – this was the type of housing for the school before rebuild

Location: Navakawau Village, Taveuni, Fiji
Search Google maps: “Taveuni Island Fiji”   See the end of the road at the most southern part of the island – the school and teachers’ quarters are the cluster of buildings north of the village.

The school has 165 students, 9 teachers, 8 teachers’ quarters.  The school sustained significant cyclone damage and much of the school has been rebuilt repaired with very strong replacements – completed mid 2019.  The school has a small generator that supplies up to 3 hours per day to the school office and some class rooms that have wiring.  The teachers’ quarters have recently had small 300W solar systems added to each home for lighting, charging and some small appliances [that was not an Its Time Foundation project] so we will not extend the school solar to the quarters – rather we established the school system so if needed in the future it can be extended to the quarters.

This 3300W system includes: 12 x YingLi solar 275W panels, Outback FLEXpower 1 inverter/charger, 6 x Simpliphi PHI2.7 lithium batteries, 1 x  Clenergy Solar Terrace III ground mounting system. Works included electrical wiring of 8 classrooms, library converted with extra power points to double as a computer room, 2 offices and staff room.  The project will divert FJD3,000+ per year from generator fuel into education equipment and resources.

School has committed to spend 20 minutes each week picking up plastics – less waste and great learning for the kids.

The project was funded by Balwyn Rotary to whom the kids at the school send a big vinaka – thank you. The project was installed Nov./Dec. 2019.

As usual our thanks goes to CBS Power Solutions for partnering with us in the installation. We acknowledge with great thanks our equipment and service supporters please visit: supporters

Vuna Primary School

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Images cyclone Winston at Vuna

Location: Vuna Village, Taveuni, Fiji
Search Google maps: “Taveuni Island Fiji”  Go to most westerly point of the island zoom in to see Vuna Lagoon Lodge, the school and teachers’ quarters are the south easterly buildings around large playing field.

The school has 171 students, 10 teachers and 9 teachers’ quarters. Much of the school was destroyed in the 2016 cyclone Winston and rebuild is now complete.   The teachers’ quarters are wired and the school has a good, but expensive to run, generator that supplies 2 to 4 hours day time power and 4 hours evening power for the teachers’ and night study.

This 5775W system includes: 21 x YingLi solar 275W panels, Outback FLEXpower Two inverter/charger, 12 x Simpliphi PHI2.7 lithium batteries, 1 x  Clenergy roof mounting system.  The new building was highly robust and considering it’s orientation we decided to use a roof mounted system (usually ground mounted).

Works included electrical wiring of several classrooms and also projects required considerable wiring to bring the system in to line with the recently installed three phase wiring to the main buildings and teachers’ quarters.  The solar system will supply to the teachers quarters, so 4 amp breakers to all quarters to limit appliance size they use to less than 960W – hence fair use of the new shared benefit of 24 hour power.  The project will divert FJD12,000 per year from generator fuel into education equipment and resources.

School has committed to spend 20 minutes each week picking up plastics – less waste and great learning for the kids.

The project lead sponsors were Australian Aid and Fiji Water Foundation.  Additional funding or in kind from Rotary Clubs of Ku-ring-gai, Corrimal, Kadinia, Taveuni and Platinum Cables.  The kids at the school send a big vinaka – thank you.

As usual our thanks goes to CBS Power Solutions for partnering with us in the installation. We acknowledge with great thanks our equipment and service supporters please visit: supporters

The project was installed Nov./Dec. 2019.

Ratu Meli Primary and Yasawa North High Schools

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The kids and plastics

Location: Nacula Village, Nacula Island, Fiji
Search Google maps: Google maps: “Nacula village, Fiji”.  Bottom left, out of the village.

The school is made up of 55 high school students and 128 primary students.  50 of the students from nearby areas board at the school in 3 dormitories.

There were 9 teachers quarters in the school precinct.

The school had a poor quality, under powered solar system installed 11 years ago that did not meet the schools needs and failed in 2015 and is not repairable. And only two school rooms had been wired. They relied on limited use of a portable generator (currently broken down).

Works included electrical wiring of the school – 16 rooms, 3 dormitories and dining room and re-wiring of the 9 teachers quarters. LED tube lighting was installed in all buildings. The wiring was a significant component of the project, if all the wire used was placed end to end it would be more than four kilometers. In total the project required more than 40 man days of work.

This 5500W system includes: 20 x YingLi solar panels, Outback FLEXpower TWO inverter/charger, 12 x Simpliphi PHI2.7 lithium batteries, 1 x  Clenergy ground mounting system. And as usual our many thanks goes to CBS Power Solution for partnering with us in the installation.

The project was funded by many donors including Fiji Water Foundation, Rotary clubs of Lindfield, Ku-ring-gai, Inverloch and Corrimal, Blue Lagoon Beach Resort, Good Travel, Ruth Donoghue and friends and many individual sponsors to whom the kids at the school send a big vinaka – thank you. The project was installed March. 2019.

We acknowledge with great thanks our equipment and service supporters please visit: supporters

Navotua Infants/Primary School

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The kids and plastics

Location: Navotua Village, Nacula Island, Fiji
Search Google maps: Google maps: “Navotua Fiji”. It is the buildings on he west edge of the village.

It is a small school with 20 students and just 2 teachers living in quarters in the school precinct. The buildings are relatively new and had good quality wiring. It relied on short periods of generator power that costs the school over $2000 per year – a considerable percentage of their budget.

This school would not normally be a target, but we were approached by the school while installing the above project at Ratu Meli / Yasawa North – approximate 20 minutes outboard trip away. We quickly identified we could salvage some good condition panels from a nearby otherwise low quality and failed solar system. And considering we had the manpower and surplus cable, conduit etc. and we could configure some roof mounts (clever work CBS), we quickly arranged for an inverter and set of batteries to be sent up to us and we installed the project.

This 1080W system will be adequate to supply the school’s daily needs and power to the teachers’ quarters. As with all schools they need to be efficient with using power and the system will service their needs well. This project did not use equipment from our supporting equipment sponsors. The project was funded by the Fiji Water Foundation.

The project was installed March. 2019.

Rabi High School

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Location: Rabi Island, Fiji
Search Google maps: Rabi Island, Fiji  Zoom to most westerly tip of the island.  The school is the cluster of buildings approx. 1 km due East.  The smaller buildings are the teachers’ quarters and dorms.

Rabi High has 207 students in 2018. 40 are from nearby islands and board in the two dormatories.

21 teachers are providing classes from years 9 to 13.  12 teachers’ quarters are in the school precinct.

The school has two diesel generators.  One still awaiting repair and this one: check out this clip of the old thing starting up .  Repair costs since 2015 exceeded $10,000.   Fuel and transport of the fuel is costing the school approximately $11,000 per year for 6 hours day power and 3 hours in the night for the teachers.  Currently the new solar is fulfilling all those needs with 24 hour uninterrupted power. Those fuel savings, repair costs and teachers happy to pay $90 per term for their now 24 hour power translates into many laptops and other electronic resources for the school.

This 6240W system includes: 24 x YingLi solar panels, 1 x SB5000 inverter, 1 x SI8.0 inverter, 8 x Simpliphi PHI3.4 batteries, 1 x new Clenergy ground mounting system. Most tube lighting removed and replaced with LED tubes in the teachers quarters and some class rooms.  The main class rooms used for night study had recently globe holders installed to replace the tubes (a recommendation we had put to the Ministry in 2016).  We did not have LED globes with us, so the school is buying the globes from the fuel savings.

The project was funded by the Fiji Water Foundation. The project was installed Feb. 2018.

For all equipment and service supporters please visit: supporters

Tabiang Primary School

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Location: Rabi Island, Fiji
Search Google maps: Rabi Island, Fiji  Zoom to most westerly tip of the island.  The school is the cluster of buildings closest to the point.

Tabiang has 117 students in 2018. 5 teachers are providing classes from years K to 8.

2 teachers’ quarters are in the school precinct.

The school has a diesel generator that failed and at the time of installation they were hiring one for $50 per day and running it for an average of two hours per day and on a needs basis in the evening for the teachers to get their work done.

The savings on fuel and transport costs is approximately $3000 per year. That will be used to promote computer learning at the school.

This 2000W system includes: 12 x BP solar panels (relocated from the 10 year old Rabi High system that was the original Its Time pilot project), 1 x Outback Inverter and Controller, 2 x Simpliphi PHI3.2 batteries, 1 x new Clenergy ground mounting system. Most tube lighting removed and replaced with LED tubes. The kindergarten and one teachers quarters were fully wired, other teachers quarters wiring repaired, extensive rewiring of the school building that had particularly dangerous wiring.

The project was funded by multiple sponsors. The project was installed Feb. 2018.

For all equipment and service supporters please visit: supporters

Ucunivatu Primary School

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Location: Vanua Levu Island, Fiji
Search Google maps: Dolphin Bay Divers, Fiji.  2.5 km due west is the large bay, slightly west of due north in the bay you will see a cluster of buildings that are the school and 4 teachers’ quarters.

Ucunivatu has 49 students in 2018.

The school is only accessible by water.  Supplies are from Taveuni and each boat trip costs approximately $60 fuel.

4 teachers are providing classes from years K to 8.  4 teachers’ quarters are in the school precinct.

The school had a 15 year old, under powered and low quality, solar system that had failed.  Often the school has no power at all and was giving consideration to buying a new diesel generator.

Had they gone down the generator path we guess annual fuel costs would have exceeded $4000 per year plus significant transport costs to get the fuel to the school.  That plus the teachers happy to pay $90 per term for their now 24 hour power translates into a considerable increase in electronic resources for the school for the coming decades.

This 3120W system includes: 12 x YingLi solar panels, 1 x SB3000 inverter, 1 x SB6.0 inverter, 3 x Simpliphi PHI3.2 batteries, 1 x new Clenergy ground mounting system. All existing lighting was removed and replaced with LED tubes in the teachers quarters and class rooms.  The teachers’ quarters were rewired as was most fo the school.

The project was funded by the Fiji Water Foundation. The project was installed Feb. 2018.

For all equipment and service supporters please visit: supporters

Bouma District School

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Location: Taveuni Island, Fiji
Search Google maps: Bouma Taveuni, Fiji

Bouma has 157 students in 2015. 9 teachers are providing classes from years 1 to 8.

8 teachers’ quarters are in the school precinct.

The school has a diesel generator that ran for an average of two hours per day and on a needs basis in the evening for the teachers to get their work done. Because of the lack of wiring, the generator did not supply any power to the teachers’ quarters. Instead teachers use their own small generators or kerosene lanterns or battery lamps.

The savings on fuel, kerosene and transport costs is approximately $4500 per year. That will be used to promote computer learning at the school.

This 3000W system includes: 12 x Yingli 250 solar panels, 1 x SMA SB3000TL grid Inverter, 1 x SMA SI4.4M remote inverter, 6 x Aquion S20P batteries, 1 x Clenergy ground mounting system. All tube lighting removed and replaced with LED globes. New electrical wiring installed in 8 teachers quarters and repair work carried out in several classrooms.

The project was funded by Mr Peter Bickerton, the Rotary Clubs of Lindfield, Ku-Ring-Gai, Roseville Chase and Taveuni (Fiji) and the Edwards family. The project was installed between Dec. 2015 and Feb. 2016.

For all equipment and service supporters please visit: supporters

St Paul’s Primary School

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Location: Naviavia, Venua Levu, Fiji
Search Google maps: Naviavia, Northern Division, Fiji

At St Paul’s 5 teachers are providing classes for 99 students. 5 teachers’ quarters are on the school grounds. A dormitory houses 32 students from villages in the region.

The teachers’ quarters had no power supplied from the school. They used their own small generators using makeshift and unsafe wiring and they supplement with kerosene lanterns. The other two quarters only had kerosene lanterns. The dormitory also used kerosene lanterns.

Prior to solar the school generator ran for an average of 2 hours during or after school each day when the teachers did photocopying, charged laptops etc. Recently they had also increased night use by running multiple extension cords to the quarters (certainly a less than safe practice particularly in rainy periods). Considering fuel consumption at the time of installation the estimated annual fuel saving is approximately $3000 per year.

The school recently received 5 new desktop computers and 20 XO laptops — all available for 24 hour power in 2016.

This 3000W system installed October 2015 includes: 12 x Yingli 250 solar panels, 1 x SMA SB3000TL grid Inverter, 1 x SMA SI4.4M remote inverter, 6 x Aquion S20P batteries, 1 x Clenergy ground mounting system. Most tube lighting removed and replaced with LED globes. 4 teachers’ quarters and the dormitory had new wiring installed. The fifth quarter was unoccupied awaiting refurbishment, wiring will be included at that time. The school office was also wired.

The project was funded by the Fiji Water Foundation. The project was completed Oct. 2015.

For all equipment and service supporters please visit: supporters

Dawara Primary School

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Location: Dawara, Vanua Levu, Fiji
Search Google maps: Dawara Fiji

50 students and 4 teachers providing classes from Year 1 to 8. 4 good condition teachers’ quarters are on the school grounds.

The school has a disproportionately large generator that runs on a needs basis during the daytime and 2 hours each night supplying teachers’ quarters.

Fuel, kerosene and transport of the fuel saved will exceed $3500 per year. The teachers are excited about what new equipment this opportunity will bring to the school.

This 2500W system installed October 2015 includes: 10 x Yingli 250 solar panels, 1 x SMA SB3000TL grid Inverter, 1 x SMA SI4.4M remote inverter, 4 x Aquion S20P batteries, 1 x Clenergy ground mounting system. Most tube lighting removed and replaced with LED globes. Some general electrical repairs were conducted.

The project was funded by the Fiji Water Foundation. The project was completed Oct. 2015.

For all equipment and service supporters please visit: supporters

South Taveuni High School

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Location: South Taveuni , Fiji
Search Google maps: Taveuni Fiji

Below refers to 2015 installation.  Considering 1. The school role has significantly increased,  2. the batteries were damaged in cyclone Winston storm surges (capacity of the bank was diminished), 3. and the nearby larger primary school needs solar; So we endeavour in 2020 to install a significantly larger system and redeploy panels and inverters to another school.

2015 report: 187 students with 9 teachers providing classes from Year 9 to11. The school is moving toward a total enrolment of 300 in the coming years. There are 9 teachers’ quarters.

The school and teachers’ quarters were receiving power from the school generator from 7 pm to 10 pm daily. Daytime generator use is on a needs basis that is increasing as the school focuses on digital education.

With the system currently supplying all the daytime power for the two schools and early evening power we estimate in excess of $6000 annual fuel saving. Because the system was installed close to the end of the school term it will not be until March 2016 that we can deliver a more confident response about performance and savings.

This 5500W system installed November 2015 includes: 22 x Yingli 250W panels, 1 x SMA SB5000TL grid Inverter, 1 x SMA SI5048 remote inverter, 16 x Aquion S20P batteries, 1 x Clenergy ground mounting system. Most tube lighting removed and replaced with LED globes.

Unfortunately the main set of photos of South Taveuni (on the day the project concluded) failed due to a corrupt SD card identified after leaving the site. A new set images including batteries, inverters and more kids will be gathered when we are next in the area.

The project was funded by the Fiji Water Foundation. The project was completed Nov. 2015.

For all equipment and service supporters please visit: supporters

Yasayasa Moala College and Naroi District School

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Location: Moala Island , Fiji
Search Google maps: Moala Island Fiji

This is a single project supplying both Yasayasa Moala College (High School) and Naroi District School. Yasayasa Moala College has 106 students and 15 teachers providing classes from Year 9 to12 and a vocational class for carpentry and joinery. Naroi District School has 97 students and 5 teachers providing classes from Kindergarten to Year 8.

There are a total of 15 teachers’ quarters at the school. 3 dormitories house 50 students from Vunuku, Nasoki, Keteira, Cakova, Maloku, Nuku and Vadra.

The school and teachers’ quarters were receiving power from the school generator from 6 pm to10 pm daily. Daytime power was limited to 4 hours per day for only 3 to 4 days per week.

Because the system was installed after the school term it will not be until March 2016 that can deliver a more confident response about performance and savings. Although we expect the system to supply majority or all of power needs and produce a saving in excess of $9,000 per year.

This 6000W system installed December 2015 includes: 24 x Yingli 250W panels, 1 x SMA SB5000TL grid Inverter, 1 x SMA SI5048 remote inverter, 12 x Aquion S20P batteries, 1 x Clenergy ground mounting system. Installed electrical wiring in the administration building, library, 1 teachers’ quarters, dormitories, dining room and cooking room.

The project was funded by the Fiji Water Foundation. The project was completed Dec. 2015.

For all equipment and service supporters please visit: supporters

Salia Levu Primary School

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Location: Taveuni Island, Fiji
Search Google maps: Navakawau Taveuni

Salia Levu has 37 students. 3 teachers provide classes from years 1 to 8. 3 teachers’ quarters are in the school precinct.

The school has a small diesel generator that would run during school days on a needs basis. It also runs for an average of three hours in the evenings to supply the teachers’ quarters. Otherwise and when fuel is low the teachers use kerosene lanterns.

The savings on fuel, kerosene and transport costs is approximately $3200 per year that will be used to promote computer learning at the school. At the time of installation the school received 17 electronic tablets.

System components: 8 x 250W Yingli solar panels, SB3000TL and SI3.3 SMA inverters, 4 x Aquion Energy S30 battery stacks, Clenergy Solar Terrace III ground mountings.

The project was funded by the Rotary Club of Taveuni, the Middendorp Foundation, the Whitelaw family, PREVIOUSNEXT and a range of other donors in 2015 — you know who you are and the kids say thank you. The project was completed Nov. 2015.

For all equipment and service supporters please visit: supporters

Wainimakutu High and Primary School.

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Click for pictures Prime Minister opening.
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Location: Viti Levu.
Google Maps search: Wainimakatu, Fiji (note it’s spelt differently on Google, in Earth view scroll NW about 1 km and the school is beside the road)

Fourteen teachers provide classes for 140 students from Year 8 to 12 in the high school and 5 teachers provide classes for 80 students in the primary school. The school draws students from the surrounding district, many walk long distances each day to get to school. Up to 40 students board at the school’s two dormitories. Eighteen teachers quarters are located in the school compound (three of those are currently under construction).

This community is even lower income than many we see, so the school generator is carefully limited to three or four hours per week in the daytime, that includes supply to the computer classes that began in 2013. The generator also runs for three to four hours each evening for night study and to supply the teachers’ quarters.

In 2012 the school installed five computers and commenced computer classes for senior years. Whilst a major milestone in the schools’ development, these classes were limited to daytime generator availability and evenings.

The all day power from the solar system will make a major difference at Wainimakutu — they will immediately expand their computer classes which are particularly important for senior secondary students.

Estimated savings that will be devoted to education is $9000 per year.

System components: 20 x 235W Q CELLS solar panels, SB5000 and SI8.0H SMA Inverters, 4 x SB1802 1350Ah PowerStack battery banks, Clenergy Solar Terrace II ground mountings.

Thanks to primary funding by the FIJI Water Foundation and support from our equipment and service sponsors the project was completed on the 26th of September 2013.

For all equipment and service supporters please visit: supporters

Namamanuca Primary School

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Location: Yanuya Island, Fiji.
Google Maps search: Yanuya Island (the school is the red roofed buildings)

Seven teachers provide classes for 141 students from Year 1 to 8. The school draws students from the village and nearby islands. 25 students board at the school’s two dormitories during the week. Seven teachers quarters are located in the school compound.

The school generator delivers a couple of hours power during the day on a needs basis — like most schools that means turning the generator for carefully monitored period so as to keep cost to a minimum. The generator run for an average of four hours each evening to supply power to the teachers quarters and boarding houses. Otherwise the teachers and boarders use kerosene lamps for lighting.

There were all sorts of ways we raised money for projects, usually a major event or a sponsor is the primary contributor. Not in this case and it is very special because the contributions are so diverse. They include donation boxes at Denarau Marina Fiji, Lulus Cafe Fiji, Eastie Beach Cafe Corrimal and Budget Pharmacy Fiji, the crazy principal at Mt Austin school who raffles herself each month to cover another teacher’s class, Tokoriki Resort guests, the group of people making regular donations, Michael’s winnings from a poker game, the walk-a-thon mob, TGA happy hour, Claremont College kids, Greens Rugby Club grand final bash, instead of flowers at Marie’s funeral and all the others who have contributed — you know who you are.

A special thank you to Tokoriki Island Resort (http://www.tokoriki.com/). On the day of opening this project, the owner of Tokoriki pledged to add dollar for dollar to the school’s fuel savings

System components: 4600W solar panel array, SB5000 and SI6.0H SMA Inverters, 4 x SB1800 600Ah PowerStack battery banks, Clenergy Solar Terrace II ground mountings, VIRIBRIGHT LEDs.

Installation took place July 2014.

Natusara Primary School

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Location: Ono Island, Fiji.
Google Maps search: Ono Island Kadavu

The school is on Ono Island in the Kadavu group. Five teachers provides classes for 56 students. The school draws students from the nearby islands and villages. Most students board at the school’s two boarding houses. There are five teachers quarters housing the teachers and their families.

The school has a generator that runs in the evenings from 6 to 9 PM to supply teachers quarters, night study and for the teachers to do photocopying and other services requiring electricity.

System components: 10 x QCELLS 235W Solar Panels, SB3000 and SI6.0H SMA Inverters, 4 x SB1800 600Ah PowerStack battery banks, Clenergy roof mounting system, VIRIBRIGHT LEDs.

It is estimated that the school will be saving in the order of $3500 per year.

Installation took place July 2014.

This project is sponsored by Fiji Water Foundation. Their second project for which we and the students at the schools are most appreciative.

Lavena Primary School

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Location: Island of Taveuni.
Google Maps search: Lavena, Northern Division, Fiji

Four teachers provide classes for 106 students from Year 1 to 8. The school draws students from the local village. Four teachers quarters are located in the school compound. The school generator is used for very limited periods during the day for school office needs. The school does not have computers for student use — this solar system will create the opportunity for the school to step into the age of computer education; due both to the access to plentiful power and the money saved to buy computers.

The generator runs for four hours each night to supply power to the teachers’ quarters and to the school for night study.

System components: 12 x 235W Q CELLS solar panels, SB3000 and SI6.0H SMA Inverters, 4 x SB1800 600Ah PowerStack battery banks, Clenergy roof mounting system.

Unfortunately the wiring at the school is incomplete and unsafe so we are rewiring the school and teachers’ quarters. Thanks to the generous support of several electrical suppliers we are getting the materials at an incredibly low price.

Savings on fuel and travel to get the fuel is approximately $3400 per year.

Thanks to the primary funding support of Art Building Children’s Dreams (Australia), Rotary Club of Templestowe, The Rotary Club of Manningham, Deakin University Global Citizenship Program; and our equipment sponsors, the project was completed 15 October 2013.

Kioa Island Primary

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Location: North Eastern Fijian Islands
Google maps search: Kioa Island

Kioa Island Primary School has five teachers providing classes for 106 students from kindergarten to year 8. After year 8 the students either finish school or they board on the larger island of Taveuni to continue their education.

Before the solar system the school’s highly valued electrical equipment included three computers, one printer, a photocopier, PA system and laminator. Limited daytime power to the school was supplied by a small old generator or another larger one that often required costly repair. The school has night power supplied by the village generator that runs for three to four hours in the evenings. Therefore power storage need (batteries) is less than is other schools who need power for night study and/or teachers quarters.

The school now has a 1400W solar system (8 Silex panels, 6 Powerstack batteries, 2 SMA inverters supported by high wind resistant Clenergy mounting systems). That exceeds the schools current needs and will cater well for significant growth in the school’s power demand.

We predict that their new solar system will deliver a fuel saving that increases teaching resources by approximately $2000 per year.

A laptop and camera were provided for both learning and to help students share their learning experiences with overseas schools. Also, a data projector so the computing experience can be shared by a whole class. The projector will also be used to show movies once a week for villagers and create an additional small cash flow for the school to pay for their internet usage. Thanks to the generous support of two Australian schools they have large supply of movies.

Since the solar system was installed the school has now gained six new computers and 17 tablets and computer classes have started. A teachers put one computer aside and every student in the two older classes unpacked the computer from the box; set it up; opened applications; shut it down and repacked it. That was so all students are familiar with these basics — so important as many of these kids have not touched a keyboard before.

Installation October 2011

Navatu High School

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Location: North Eastern Fijian Islands

Seventeen teachers provide classes for 220 students. The students are drawn from nearby village primary schools. Approximately 45 students live too far to walk to school so they board during the week and go home on the weekends.

Eleven teachers quarters are located in the school compound. Before the solar system the school’s highly valued electrical equipment includes a photocopier, two desktop computers, one laptop, one printer and a duplicating machine. Also equipment for physics and chemistry experiments and various power tools in the woodwork room. Not a great deal of equipment compared to developed countries, but they do get great value from it.

Before the solar system the school accessed power from a generator that they could afford to run for three to four hours each day. The generator was carried away from the school on the longest power lead they had to avoid noise disrupting the students. A 2700W solar system (16 Silex panels, 2 x 1350 Ah Powerstack battery banks, 2 SMA inverters, high wind resistant Clenergy mounting systems). That well exceeds the school’s current needs and allows for growing amount of school equipment. As well as constant power and night study,the system will deliver a fuel saving that will increase teaching resources by more than $3000 per year.

It was our intention that the power stored in the battery bank would supply a major part of the evening power demand for four of the teachers’ quarters (at the time on the school power circuit), but due to a change in the electrical supply (new generator and rewiring/distribution of power to all the teachers quarters) the solar system will not provide this in the near future. We are developing a upgrade plan that will meet that objective.

The school is committed to learning about renewable energy and energy efficiency. The systems provide a hands-on opportunity to do this. A laptop, camera and internet access were provided to help students share their learning experiences with overseas schools. Also, a data projector so the computing and internet experience can be shared by a whole class. The projector will also be used to show movies once a week for villagers and create an additional small cash flow for the school to pay for their internet usage.

Installation September 2010