Solar top of the class

A recently installed 26.5 kilowatt solar PV system will provide Dunsborough Primary School with 30 per cent of its power needs and help students learn about green energy generation.

The school first approached Bendigo Bank to inquire about getting a loan for the system, but Busselton and Dunsborough branch manager Luke Pearce put forward an alternative solution.

“Bendigo Bank has a community investment program so we sat down ... arranged seed funding and put the first $20,000 towards the project,” branch manager Luke Pearce said.

With Bendigo Bank getting the ball rolling, other organisations and individuals came on board.

Naturaliste Renewable Energy Group chairman and renowned photographer Christian Fletcher donated a series of prints for sale, which raised $6000.

Dunsborough Lions Club also put $5000 to the project — one of the biggest donations the small club has ever made.

School board chairman Michael Baldock said it was “very much a community project”.

“We did some fundraising and had some other donations, and we ended up getting enough to get the system installed,” he said.

Software from installer Save Energy will allow students to see the energy input and output via an app.

Mr Baldock said it would help prepare students for the future.