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Klaipeda schools ready for solar revolution

Klaipeda schools ready for solar revolution

Kindergartens and schools in the Lithuanian city are eager to get in on the solar power craze

Lithuania is at the forefront of Europe’s solar revolution. The country has invested heavily in the creation of solar power plants as well as the distribution and availability of solar panels for the general populace.

Not only that, but private citizens have also been more than keen to get in on the action and have been looking for opportunities to get their local authorities to sign up to one of the many opportunities for solar development.

Citizen engagement

One of the most striking examples of this development is the way the citizens of the city of Klaipeda are reacting to the rise of solar power.

Schools and kindergarten across the town have been applying, petitioning and submitting proposals for the construction of solar power plants near or at their premises.

The eagerness of the educational institutions is surprising even for local officials. As Inga Kubilienė, Head of Social Infrastructure Supervision Department of Klaipeda City Municipality stated, "Educational institutions are not even urged, there is no shortage of people willing to take advantage of this opportunity,".

The opportunity for the development of solar power comes thanks a government-funded programme aimed at its popularization.

Investing in the future

With many schools across Klaipeda already signing up to the initiative, the municipality expects that the investment would pay for itself in just a few short years - despite the fact that the government-allocated funds only cover 80% of the development expenses, and the local authorities will be shouldering the rest of the burden.

The municipality has given a concrete example of the cost-efficiency of solar development. “Žemyna" high school consumed 58,923 kWh of electricity last year with the cost of electricity consumption amounting to 10,903 euros. The installation of a 60 kW solar power plant is estimated to provide for 96% of the school’s needs. The investment, meanwhile, will be worth 17.5 thousand euros, thus it will be paying for itself in just a little more than a year.

Cheaper, safer and more efficient – these are the benefits of developing solar power and Lithuanian municipalities are eager to exploit the opportunity.

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