National Solar Schools Program

Information for installers assisting schools with claims

Unlike some government programs, funding provided under the National Solar Schools Program (NSSP) is not a rebate. What this means is that funding will not be provided to meet commitments a school has made, items that have been purchased or works that have been undertaken prior to the school entering into a funding agreement with the NSSP.

The following steps must happen before a school can enter into a commitment to purchase materials or services with NSSP funding:

a school must have registered with the NSSP
a school must submit a Claim Form to the NSSP
the NSSP must approve the school's claim
a funding agreement between the school and the NSSP must be signed by both the school and the NSSP
the funding must be deposited to the school's bank account.

Any quote that is provided to a school under the proviso that the school must engage that installer when NSSP funding is approved is considered to be a prior commitment and will render the school's project ineligible for funding.

Solar power systems

Details installers must provide to schools

Following is a list of the crucial information a solar power system installer must provide to a school when quoting for a project funded by the National Solar Schools Program:

Designer name and accreditation number
Installer name and accreditation number
Electrician name and licence number
PV panel manufacturer
PV panel model number
PV panel capacity (watts)
Quantity/number of PV panels
Inverter manufacturer
Inverter model number
Inverter capacity (watts)
PV panels - cost
Frames/supporting equipment - cost
Inverter - cost
Smart meter - cost
Delivery - cost
Installation - cost.

More information: Claim Form Instructions.

Accreditation - Installer and designer accreditation numbers

To be eligible for funding, a solar power system must be installed by a person accredited for design and installation of photovoltaic systems by the Clean Energy Council.
The NSSP Claim Form requires an installer's name (not a company name) and their accreditation number.
List of Clean Energy Council Accredited Designers and Installers.

NOTE: Please ensure that you give the school the correct accreditation number. If we cannot match the accreditation number with one on the Clean Energy Council list we will reject the claim and the school will be asked to follow up with their installer for the correct information.

Installation reports

A solar power system Installation Report Form is available from the National Solar Schools Program website - www.environment.gov.au/nationalsolarschools.
Sections B and C of the report are required to be completed by the installer at the time of installation.
The school must submit this report when acquitting their funding.

PV panel and inverter model numbers

Solar power systems funded by the NSSP must meet relevant Australian Standards.
PV panels and inverters must be certified by an approved testing laboratory as meeting the relevant Australian Standard to be eligible for National Solar Schools Program funding.

NOTE: Please ensure the solar power system details are correct, in particular the PV panel and inverter model numbers. If the model numbers are not exact and cannot be found on the list of certified panels and inverters administered by the Clean Energy Council, the school will be asked to re-submit their claim with the correct information.

The Australian Standard for PV modules has changed

The relevant Australian Standard for PV installations (AS 5033) has been updated and came into effect on 1 June 2009.

Claims to the NSSP approved before 1 June 2009 (that is, up to and including 31 May 2009) can comply with the old Standard. Claims approved from 1 June 2009 must meet the new Standard.

The Approved Grid Connect Inverters and PV modules list has been updated and published on the Clean Energy Council's website.

Please ensure the solar power system details are correct on your Claim Form, in particular the PV panel and inverter model numbers. If the model numbers are not exact and cannot be found on the list of certified panels and inverters administered by the Clean Energy Council, the school will be asked to re-submit the claim with the correct information.

Approved Grid Connect Inverters and PV modules list - Clean Energy Council

Rainwater tank installations

The National Solar Schools Program will fund tanks to store rainwater harvested from a roof only.
The rainwater cannot be stored in an open pit at any stage - it must flow directly from a roof into a tank to minimise contamination.
Rainwater tanks cannot be used to store any other kind of water, for example, stormwater, groundwater, greywater, blackwater or surface water.
The NSSP does not fund water treatment projects, for example, recycling stormwater, greywater etc.
The NSSP will fund certain water quality or safety items for rainwater tanks if they are necessary, for example, first flush filters, mosquito guards, safety fencing.
The water cannot be used for potable applications, for example, drinking, showering, cooking or pool refilling. The school can apply to the NSSP for an exemption from this requirement if there is no mains water connection at the school.
The NSSP does not fund the connection of existing tanks to school infrastructure. Items relating to rainwater tanks (as listed in the guidelines, for example, pumps and pipes) are only eligible for funding if they relate to a tank funded by the NSSP.

Quotes & assessing value for money

Provide cost breakdowns

One valuable way you are able to assist schools with their National Solar Schools Program Claim Form is by providing quotes with the required cost breakdown. This information will be used in assessing value for money.

Claim form requirements

The Claim Form requires more detailed cost breakdowns, in particular, delivery and installation costs, for:

Solar power systems (page 3)
Other renewable power systems (page 4)
Solar or heat pump hot water systems (page 4)
Rainwater tanks (page 5)

The solar power system dollar fields on the claim form that are required are:

Photovoltaic panels
Frames and supporting equipment
Inverter
Smart meter and display
Balance of system requirements
Delivery
Installation

The solar power system dollar fields that are not required, if they are not applicable to the school's installation, are:

Monitoring equipment
Web-linked PV system monitoring

For rainwater tanks, you need to enter costs against:

Tank
Delivery
Installation

Value for money

Schools are required to seek value for money.
We recommend that schools obtain at least three quotes for all major items.
All claims are carefully assessed and the National Solar Schools Program may question the value for money aspect of any claim.
A school may be asked to justify the costs associated with items and activities listed in the claim.

More information: National Solar School Program Guidelines Part 4: Planning your project

Contact us

HOTLINE
1800 703 831
EMAIL
nationalsolarschools
@environment.gov.au

National Solar Schools Program
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
GPO Box 787
Canberra ACT 2601