Dr. Thomas inquires about the maintenance and monitoring of solar panels on government schools in the South West and Great Southern regions. The Minister for Education confirms routine cleaning contracts exist, but output is not monitored.

AnsweredQoN 1996Legislative Council
Asked
16 April 2024
Portfolio
Education

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to solar panels on Government schools in the South West and Great Southern, and I ask: (a) are school solar panels cleaned; (b) if no to (a), why not; (c) what contracts exist for the cleaning of school solar panels, and how are they referenced; (d) are any contracts for the cleaning of solar panels conducted through Tenders WA; (e) how are school solar panels assessed for dirt and debris: (i) who does this assessment; (f) is the output of school solar panels monitored and recorded; (g) if yes to (f), has there been any decline over time; and (h) please quantify any such decline?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
16 May 2024
Responded by
Leader of the House representing the Minister for Education
Response time
8 days
(a)   Solar panels installed by the Department of Education are included in the routine maintenance schedule for cleaning. Schools that have installed their own solar systems, or are not included in the current routine maintenance schedule, can request to have their system included.
(b)   Not applicable.
(c)   There are currently three routine maintenance contracts for solar panel cleaning and related services, published on the Tenders WA website as follows:
1.      FINW0163922 – routine maintenance for residual current devices (RCDs) exit and emergency lights testing and tagging of portable electrical appliances and solar systems – various government sites – Mid-West region – awarded to Elite Electrical Contracting
2.      FINW0572523 – provision of routine maintenance for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems – various government sites – Wheatbelt region – awarded to Essential Energy Services
3.      FINW0719022 – provision of routine maintenance for solar PV systems – Finance – awarded to Infinity Electrical and Solar (registered Aboriginal business).
(d)   Yes, as above.
(e)   By visual inspection.
(i)       A suitably qualified contractor
(f)    No.
(g)   Not applicable.
(h)   Not applicable.

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