What do you do when your local roads are cut off due to floods and you’re reliant on diesel trucks getting through to meet your power needs? This was exactly the challenge faced by Smart Ease customer Yiramalay Studio School.
The school is a partnership between the Bunuba People and Studio Schools of Australia (SSA). It is located in Bunuba country, approximately 80 km north of Fitzroy Crossing. Established in 2010, it’s the foundation prototype studio school of SSA and offers a groundbreaking educational model that empowers Indigenous children to build a future of pride, belonging and success.
In its 14 years, the Yiramalay Studio School on-country model has proven highly successful. Over 73% of its graduates are currently employed, significantly surpassing the national employment rate for First Nations people with senior schooling, which stands at 44.9%.
Project snapshot
Industry: Education
Channel Partner: GenOffGrid
Equipment: Solar Lithium Diesel Microgrid consisting of 363kWh solar system, 2x 535 kVA BESS, integrated with a new 300 kVA standby generator
Payment Plan term: 120 months
Looking ahead, SSA aims to replicate Yiramalay’s success across remote Northern Australia, with the ambitious goal of opening 10 new Studio Schools over the next decade. During this crucial growth phase, SSA’s leadership team strategically manages current and future operating costs. A key focus has been transitioning from diesel as the primary energy source to reduce costs, increase energy efficiency and lower carbon emissions.
The first step of that transition began earlier this year with the installation of a solar microgrid at Yiramalay.
“We started with a 15 kVA system and as Yiramalay grew in student and staff numbers, so did our electrical needs. In 10 years, we went from 15 kVA to 220 kVA. With the rising cost of diesel and the logistical challenges of getting diesel to Yiramalay during the wet season, it was clear that we needed to find a more sustainable solution. Introducing solar became an obvious and important step forward.” — Dr. Helen Drennen AM, SSA CEO
The solution
The SSA team engaged solar specialists GenOffGrid to propose a reliable and energy-efficient system to meet the school’s high energy demands during peak hours.
Over three months the GenOffGrid team inspected the Yiramalay site, assessed its energy loads, designed the solar system and began the installation.
The result was an integrated microgrid system consisting of a 363 kWh solar array with a 330 kVA inverter capacity, two 535 kWh BESS units, a 300 kVA Standby Generator, and a custom-designed microgrid controller.
Given the scale of the project, it made business sense to explore payment options to fund the installation. Russell Grant from GenOffGrid recommended that SSA use a Smart Ease Payment Plan to spread the cost of the system over monthly instalments rather than contend with an upfront lump sum. These monthly payments were less than the monthly cost of diesel and reduced the need to refuel and service the generators. This approach preserved cash and made the project financially feasible.
The win
Yiramalay Studio School’s new microgrid is expected to generate up to 80% of the school’s total energy needs. With a significant reduction in diesel use, the school will achieve substantial energy savings and eliminate the risk of power outages due to accessibility issues.
“This year we’ve had a big wet season, with many people isolated and roads cut off by floodwaters. Not being dependent on diesel trucks in these conditions, especially in a remote area, is a significant benefit.” — Russell Grant, GenOffGrid
For Helen and the entire SSA team, this project aligns with the school’s broader mission and core principles.
“It has always been part of the vision of Studio Schools of Australia to run each school in a cost-efficient and environmentally responsible manner,” said Dr. Helen Drennen AM. “The introduction of solar at Yiramalay supports both our curriculum and educational program for students and staff.”
Start a conversation with Smart Ease and find out how our Payment Plans can help you meet sustainability goals and save on energy costs.