Education Minister Grace Grace joined Keppel Member Brittany Lauga to officially inaugurate a 99kW off-grid renewable energy system at the Konomie Island Environmental Education Centre.
The renewable energy system is the largest to be installed at a Queensland state school, featuring 258 Australian solar panels, 36 lithium phosphate batteries, a wind turbine, and a backup generator.
“The new off-grid system demonstrates what we can achieve using technology to reduce our environmental impact,” Minister Grace said.
“It is also a powerful educational tool to show the 2,500 students who visit Konomie Island Environmental Education Centre each year the latest in renewable energy systems,” Minister Grace stated.
The Queensland Government has allocated $1.3 million to build the system designed and delivered by Solar Hybrid conversion.
The off-grid system and the sea grass beds planted and refreshed by the school staff make the Konomie Island Environmental Education Centre carbon negative.
Konomie Island is now the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park’s first carbon-negative island.
“I am so proud of the world leading work that’s being done right here on the Capricorn Coast. think this can be a blueprint for other islands around Australia and around the world,” Member for Keppel Lauga said.
Konomie Island Environmental Education Centre Principal Andrew Gill commented, “Our new solar panel and lithium phosphate battery system produces and stores enough electricity to power 40 households.”
“This will pave the way for the air-conditioning of accommodation cabins through renewable energy only,” he added.
The investment supports existing initiatives like installing more than 200,000 solar panels across 900+ public schools in Queensland. It is a part of the Department of Education’s commitment to supporting the State Government’s targets to reduce emissions.
The State Government has nearly achieved its 2030 emissions reduction target of 30% below 2005 levels, with a 29% reduction in 2021 data. The government aims for zero net emissions by 2050, aligning with global economies.
The State Government is also implementing its $62 billion Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan, which includes a historic expansion of solar and wind power supported by two world-class pumped hydro projects and will result in a 90% decrease in emissions from 2005 levels by 2035-36.
