IMPORTANT INFORMATION - NATIONAL SOLAR SCHOOLS IS TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED TO NEW CLAIMS UNTIL 2010

The National Solar Schools Program has been suspended to any new claims in 2009-10.

This suspension takes effect as of 3:00pm AESDST 15 October 2009.

The National Solar Schools Program has proven very popular with schools across the country. More than half of Australian schools have now registered to participate, and more than 1,800 schools have been approved for funding to install a wide range of renewable energy and energy efficiency measures.

The demand for funding from the program has been very high, and the Department has now received enough claims to meet the program's full budget allocation in 2009-10.

As a result, the program is now being temporarily suspended to new claims until next year.

The program's next tranche of funding will be available in July 2010. However, we will open the program to new claims in May 2010 so schools can get a headstart on preparing their claims for funding from that year. We will announce more information on the re-opening on this website in the coming months.

All claims submitted to the program before 3:00pm AESDST Thursday 15 October 2009 will still be processed this financial year. This means that more than 700 additional schools should receive funding in 2009-10.

For any more information, schools or installers can contact the program by:

• Emailing nationalsolarschools@environment.gov.au, OR

• Calling the National Solar Schools Hotline on 1800 703 831.

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• IMPORTANT: Unlike some government programs, funding provided under the National Solar Schools Program is not a rebate. What this means is that funding will not be provided to meet commitments you have made, items that have been purchased or works that have been commenced or completed prior to you entering into a funding agreement with the Australian Government National Solar Schools Program.
  
  To be eligible for funding, you must not enter into a commitment, purchase items or start work until a funding agreement with the Australian Government National Solar Schools Program has been signed.
  
  A National Solar Schools grant is a one-off payment. If you do not use your full entitlement when you make your claim you will not be able to claim the remainder at a later date.
  
  Please note that if your school has received Green Vouchers for Schools grant funding, and you wish to apply for grant funding under National Solar Schools, you must first have completed your Green Vouchers project within the specified period and have had accepted by us a final report and financial acquittal. This will allow us to assess your school's remaining entitlement (if any) under National Solar Schools.
  
  Please see the National Solar Schools Program Guidelines for the full list of eligible items.