Workers installing Paarl School solar project; photo credit: art•hub
At Sun Exchange, we love sharing news that highlights how solar power can uplift communities. Today, we’re thrilled to announce the energisation of the 101 kW solar project at Paarl School, a highly-regarded school and resource centre in Brackenfell, Cape Town, serving learners with special needs from across the Western Cape. The solar project was primarily funded by German nonprofit, Capetopia.
Founded in 1978, Paarl School offers a nurturing and holistic educational environment for children with high intensity support needs, such as cerebral palsy, physical disabilities and certain learning difficulties. Alongside dedicated teaching staff, the school employs a multidisciplinary team of therapists, psychologists, nursing staff and social workers. The school also plays a vital role as a resource centre for mainstream schools and other community organisations.
Paarl School learner enjoying the school’s vegetable garden
Powering Paarl School with Clean, Affordable Energy
With the new solar installation now live, Paarl School is set to benefit from affordable, clean energy for years to come. The system will cover nearly half of the school’s energy needs, providing power to around 500 staff and learners, while significantly reducing the school’s electricity costs. In fact, with Sun Exchange’s Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) offering and thanks to Capetopia’s donation, Paarl School will pay a per kilowatt-hour rate for solar power that’s nearly 75% lower than standard utility rates in the first year alone. These savings will continue to grow as utility tariffs inevitably rise over time. What’s more, any excess energy the school doesn’t use will be exported back to the grid, creating added value for the school.
With the money saved on electricity, Paarl School will reinvest in what matters most: creating more learning opportunities for all its students, no matter their socioeconomic background.
Avoiding Carbon Emissions and Driving Sustainability
On top of the financial benefits, the Paarl School project will make a positive climate impact. Over the next 20 years, the solar system is expected to generate more than 2,700 MWh of clean energy, avoiding approximately 2,800 tonnes of carbon emissions. That’s the equivalent of eliminating over 1,400 tonnes of coal burning — a win for the school and the planet!
Here is what Garth Hewitt, Chair of Paarl School’s Governing Body, had to say about the project: “Paarl School is proud to showcase how a school can take steps to create a brighter and more sustainable world for future generations. We are grateful to Capetopia for their generous donation and pleased to have Sun Exchange as an enabling partner to make the solar project possible.”
Partnering for a Brighter Future
This project wouldn’t have been possible without the vision and support of Capetopia, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting sustainability and social equality in Cape Town. The organisation was founded by German psychologist Jessica Bönn who, after years living in Cape Town, developed a deep connection with the city, as well as an acute awareness of its pervasive inequalities, and decided to take action.
This is what Jessica had to say about the solar project: “The Paarl School solar project benefits the school, its learners, the community and the planet, bringing us one step closer to making the Capetopia vision a reality. We are proud to contribute to making this project possible and look forward to more projects in the future.”
At Sun Exchange, we’re passionate about making solar power accessible with our Risk-Free Solar offering. Our fully funded and fully managed Power Purchase Agreements ensure that organisations like Paarl School can enjoy clean, reliable energy, without having to worry about the installation costs or hassles of owning and operating a solar plant. We handle everything, from design and installation to maintenance, operations and insurance, so that our customers can focus on what matters most to them.
As Saul Wainwright, our CEO, said: “Our goal is always to make the transition to solar seamless and rewarding for our customers. Institutions like Paarl School should be able to focus time and resources on their core mission of serving learners and the broader community, rather than worrying about energy costs, security and project logistics. We commend Paarl School for serving as a shining example of how solar energy can drive positive change and Capetopia for playing a pivotal role in making it happen.”
