Renewable powered classroom trial

RENEWABLE powered ‘smart’ classrooms with the ability to power both themselves and two more conventional classrooms will be trialled in NSW schools.

Hivve Technology will build and install two prototype classrooms at St Christopher’s Catholic Primary School in Holsworthy and Dapto High School in Dapto, with Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) providing

$350,000 for the trial.

“With the average Australian classroom consuming approximately

3800 KWH per year, these trial classrooms have the potential to reduce both energy consumption and costs in our schools,” Federal Environment and Energy minister Frydenberg said.

“They have the ability to not only power themselves, but also generate enough power for two additional convention classrooms, totalling approximately 11,400 KWH per year.”

The portable classrooms incorporate solar PV generation, real-time energy metering and air quality monitoring.

Data is collected in 15 minute intervals from a network of meters and sensors installed in each classroom, enabling the schools to actively manage energy demands and control indoor environment quality via a user-friendly dashboard.

“This is a great opportunity for our students to learn about energy production and consumption as well as various exciting technology developments – many of which Australia is at the forefront,” Mr Frydenberg said.