In the Kyiv region, one of the lyceums in Borodyanka has been equipped with a hybrid solar station for autonomous power supply. Solar panels will provide up to 40% of all the needs of the educational institution.
This is reported by the correspondent of Suspilny.
The lyceum has 780 students. The premises are also used by sports and music schools, and after-school clubs operate. According to the director, Olena Kovalenko, due to power outages, the lyceum constantly used a gasoline generator. With the advent of panels, it has become less frequently used.
“I inform my colleagues that we are on alternative power supply and use energy sparingly. The lighting in the classrooms is turned on, for example, the one near the wall – near the window during the day is enough. Our entire school is powered by panels: we turn on the light in the office, use office equipment, the computer science room, computers, smart boards, shelters,” said Kovalenko.
Class at the Lyceum. Social News/Nikita Halka
After the lyceum's request, the roof of the educational institution was equipped with panels free of charge in a few months. The project was financed by donors from the Energy Action for Ukraine charity fund.
“There are 92 panels here, which guarantee at least three hours of continuous operation. In January, the school was in blackouts, and we were able to test the system and it turned out that the power supply is enough for longer,” said the director of the foundation, Yuliana Onishchuk.
The Lyceum in Borodyanka was equipped with solar panels. Energy act for Ukraine Foundation
Solar panels convert light into electricity and store it in batteries, which power the institution. After the blackouts are lifted, the institution will use a combination of centralized power supply and solar generation. This will save the lyceum 7,000 euros per year on utility bills, Onishchuk noted.
Equipment that converts sunlight into electricity. Social News/Nikita Halka
“The goal was not to block 100% of the school's consumption. Because it was not possible, it is very expensive, and there are no children in the summer. 30-40% of annual generation is the standard when we talk about such energy-efficient measures,” she said.
Borodyansky Academic Lyceum became the first educational institution in the village to be equipped with solar panels. Next is the Ukrainian-Lithuanian Lyceum No. 1. In total, since 2022, the foundation has equipped 13 of the 100 planned schools or lyceums across the country with solar panels.