HRVATSKI TELEKOM DD 
By 30.4.2013
The donation project Solar Sunflowers, which Hrvatski Telekom has launched and financed with HRK 400,000, and implemented it in cooperation with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) as a partner, was presented today in the premises of Tin Ujeviæ Elementary School in Zagreb. The project was presented by Mr. Ivica Mudriniæ, President of the Management Board and CEO of Hrvatski Telekom, and Ms Louisa Vinton, the United Nations Resident Coordinator and United Nations Development Program Resident Representative in Croatia. The project was supported by Mr. Mihael Zmajloviæ, Minister of Environmental and Nature Protection of the Republic of Croatia, who participated in the project presentation.
In the project named Solar Sunflowers ten elementary schools throughout Croatia have been equipped with a solar tracker, a free-standing solar system that tracks the sun throughout the day so that solar modules are positioned at an optimal angle to the sun, which increases system efficiency by approximately 30% and thus the amount of energy produced. The idea behind the project is also to educate children about the renewable sources of energy, namely solar and wind energy, the energy of river currents, tides and waves, geothermal and biomass energy. Education of school children will be conducted by the project organizers in cooperation with the Society for Sustainable Development Design (DOOR) and the Eko Kvarner association.
"By joining the EU we accept high standards of environmental protection and some ambitious goals, e.g. the plan that twenty percent of energy comes from renewable sources by the year 2020, which can be accomplished only through joint efforts of the economy, energy sector and by raising awareness of the whole society. This is why I support every action like Solar Sunflowers the aim of which is to teach children from an early age about energy generation methods, as well as advantages of energy coming from renewable sources. My wish is that Solar Sunflowers become not only a source of energy, but also an inspiration for all other activities focused on preserving our environment, in all schools in which solar trackers have been installed", said Mr. Mihael Zmajloviæ, Minister of Environmental and Nature Protection.
"Croatia has a huge potential for increased use of solar energy and other renewable sources of energy", said UNDP Resident Representative Louisa Vinton. "In order to use this opportunity, we must intrigue the imagination of the public, and an excellent way to do this is to teach school students about the solar energy through their own experience".
In all our activities at Hrvatski Telekom, we are fully aware of the importance of the notion of sustainability, as we are convinced that true progress can come only if we fully respect both the people and the planet. By this project, we wish to contribute to learning, already in the school age, how to identify current developments by the consequences they may have for the future. To turn to the sun and contribute to clean air, while making use of the benefits brought by fast technological progress - this is a win-win situation", said Mr. Ivica Mudriniæ, President of the Management Board and CEO of Hrvatski Telekom.
Today's presentation of the project in the Tin Ujeviæ Elementary School, hosted by the school principal Ms Jasmina Hamer, was preceded by very well accepted, similar projects in nine elementary schools, namely OŠ Lapad in Dubrovnik, OŠ Hvar in Hvar, OŠ Ðure Deželiæa in Ivaniæ-Grad, OŠ Ostrog in Kaštel Lukšiæ, OŠ Ljudevita Modeca in Križevci, OŠ Fran Krsto Frankopan in Omišalj, OŠ Veli vrt in Pula, OŠ Siniše Glavaševiæa in Vukovar and OŠ Šimuna Kozièiæa Benje in Zadar.
With the newly installed solar photovoltaic systems, the ten schools will each year, over the next 25 years, cut electricity bills by approximately HRK 2,000 per year. The school children will be able to track information on produced electricity via the system on the Internet, where it will be shown how much electricity was produced by relevant "sunflower" during a given hour, day, month or year, and compare the data with the energy generated by the solar sunflowers in other schools. It will also be possible to monitor the level of CO2 emission reduction. Besides, more than 1000 school children will undergo training in solar energy within the project.
In the next phase of the project, the installed solar systems will make it possible for the schools to apply for a permit for including the energy produced into the network and in this way generate revenue from the sale of electricity.
In order to make the information on solar energy available to the public and to follow project results, a special web page has been set up: www.solarnisuncokreti.hr , which has had almost 25,000 unique visits in the last month.
Visit the page for free download of working materials, storybook and worksheets for educating children about renewable sources of energy.
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