Solar panels will be installed in 50 schools in North Macedonia through a project valued at 1.1 million euros, supported by a grant from the Ministry of Education and the Council of Europe Development Bank.
During the summer period, solar panels will be installed in 50 schools across North Macedonia.
This project is financed through a non-repayable grant worth €1.1 million for the development of renewable energy sources, agreed between the Ministry of Education and Science of North Macedonia and the Development Bank of the Council of Europe.
The agreement was signed by Minister Vesna Janevska and Vice-President of the Development Bank, Thomas Boček.
The Ministry highlights that by switching from fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy, schools will contribute to environmental protection and achieve significant financial savings, which can be redirected towards improving educational conditions.
The project is supported through the European Green Social Investment Fund, which promotes inclusive climate action by the Council of Europe.
The government stresses that this initiative not only saves financial resources, but also allows for funds to be redirected towards other infrastructure projects, digital equipment, and textbooks for pupils.
The aim is to increase energy efficiency through the use of renewable sources, which will also contribute to the enhancement of the education system. The government believes that such concrete measures not only save budget funds but also reduce the negative impact on the environment.
The investment will significantly reduce costs for the state budget, enabling additional investments in infrastructure, textbooks, and digital teaching tools.
The government reminds that investing in renewable sources reduces expenses and helps lower pollution levels, while quality education and the implementation of these projects will improve the overall educational system.
Examples of good practice already exist.
For instance, the St. Cyril and Methodius Secondary School of Economics in Ohrid has been using 30 kW solar panels for the past two years, donated by the company OKTA AD. The school’s heating system has been supplemented with heat pumps, reducing heating costs by 40 percent.
The school’s headmaster, Riste Jankoski, explains that the solar power plant produces around 150 kWh daily, with part of the energy used within the school and the surplus sold to the local energy company EVN, thereby reducing electricity bills.
So far, over 50 MWh of electricity has been generated, and the systems are environmentally friendly as they emit no harmful gases. Panel maintenance is simple, mainly involving occasional cleaning.
The Mayor of Ohrid, Kiril Pecakov, announced that the goal is for all schools in the city to be equipped with similar systems, increasing energy efficiency and reducing costs.
There are also plans to install solar panels in other schools across the municipality, as many still use heating oil, which poses a financial challenge.
In the municipality of Kisela Voda in Skopje, a similar project is already being implemented in primary schools, aiming for the energy independence of schools and redirecting the saved funds to improve teaching quality, said Mayor Orce Gjorgjievski.
The installation of grid-connected solar systems up to 20 kW will enable additional savings and contribute to environmental protection by reducing emissions and electricity costs.