Becoming the first school in Bardez to be fully powered by solar energy, St Britto High School
Mapusa recently inaugurated the new 20KW on-grid solar power plant that will
fully power the entire school. This is in addition to its 5kw-off grid solar
plant that was installed in July last year and a 10 Kw plant that powers the
residential block, thus producing a total of 35Kw/hr of solar power in the St
Britto premises. St Britto’s is only the second school after Loyola High
School, Margao to be fully powered by solar energy. Loyola HS had inaugurated
their solar power plant on the June 23, this year. Both these schools are run
by the Jesuits who have taken up this green power initiative that will benefit
the schools for the next 25 odd years.
The solar project was inaugurated by Minister Michael Lobo and
blessed by Rev Fr Roland Coelho SJ, Provincial of the Goa Jesuit Province. The
short programme that was held in the school hall was attended by distinguished
guests, PTA members, staff, students and benefactors. The programme began with
an opening song ‘I have a dream’ and a prayer. The Headmaster addressed the
gathering and thanked the special dignitaries, officials of the electricity
department, benefactors, ex students and parents for their support and
financial help in completing the solar project.
Br
Nigel Alphonso, who was instrumental in designing and installing the solar
project, briefed the gathering about the solar power plant that generates about
100-110 units of power on a normal sunny day. The on-grid inverter is connected
to a Net-Meter, which records both, the units imported and exported. The
surplus power exported will be compensated for by the electricity department
every six months. Michael Lobo and Fr Roland Coelho SJ addressed the gathering
about the need to adopt green initiatives that will go a long way in benefiting
our planet and would be the school’s contribution towards saving Mother Earth
for the generations to come.
