St. Lorenzo Ruiz Middle School Solar PV 

Overview 

As part of the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre’s Solar for Schools Program, Red Deer Catholic Separate School Board installed a 400 kW solar PV system at St. Lorenzo Ruiz Middle School. The solar PV system will generate 400,555 kWh of electricity per year, saving the school around $40,055.50 in energy costs per year. The total project cost was $852,654.00 with 50% of costs covered by the Solar for Schools Program.  

Approach 

The project was initiated in the Spring of 2022 and was completed in the winter of 2023. 

Results 

The project is expected to reduce emissions from the schools by 228.32 tonnes of CO₂e per year, which is equivalent to removing 46 passenger vehicles from the road. With the project now complete, education around renewable energy will be integrated into the school curriculum where students will learn about solar energy technology. Students will also learn to describe the conversion of solar energy into electrical and thermal energy. 

We are excited that St. Lorenzo Ruiz Middle School will be able to use this renewable resource to aid in providing power to the school and help to reduce operating costs.

Dr. Kathleen Finnigan, Superintendent at RDCRS