The South Korean government will install solar power generation facilities at all public elementary, middle, and high schools by 2030. A pilot program will be conducted at 400 schools this year, with each school expected to save approximately 10 million won ($7,300) annually in electricity costs.
The Ministry of Education announced the "Sunshine Connection School Project Implementation Plan" on Monday. The initiative aims to address rising electricity consumption at schools while establishing them as hubs for energy transition and climate and ecological education.
This year, the ministry will invest 43.3 billion won in special grants to launch pilot programs at 400 public schools, partially replacing grid electricity with solar power generation. Each school will receive 50-kilowatt solar installations capable of generating 68 megawatt-hours annually.
The 400 pilot schools are projected to produce approximately 27,200 MWh of electricity per year, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 12,597 tons annually.
The Ministry of Education plans to install solar facilities at 4,387 public elementary, middle, and high schools nationwide by 2030. To achieve this goal, the ministry will revise budget allocation guidelines for education expenses to prioritize solar project funding. As of the end of last year, solar facilities had been installed at 34.6% of all public schools.
"The annual installation scale requires consultation with provincial education offices and input from schools," a ministry official said. "Since installation capacity varies by school, specific annual installation targets will be announced in the second half of this year."
The ministry also plans to utilize school solar facilities as educational resources. Schools will establish on-campus experience centers to help students understand the necessity and principles of solar energy. Plans include installing simple solar modules for lighting, operating fans, and charging smart devices.
Based on the pilot program results, the ministry will develop and share educational models and best teaching practices. It will also promote teacher training programs, learning communities, and leading school operations to integrate solar facility-based lessons into regular curricula.
"The Sunshine Connection School Project goes beyond energy savings and greenhouse gas reduction to transform schools into central spaces for climate change and ecological transition education," Education Minister Choi Kyo-jin said. "We hope that carbon neutrality practices at schools will spread not only to local communities but throughout society."