Ministry of Education and UNICEF Open Solar-Power Station in Mary Secondary School Ahead of New School Year
New solar station will light School No. 36's sports ground and schoolyard and serve as a hands-on renewable energy learning lab for students across Mary Velayat
Just days before children across Turkmenistan return to their classrooms for the Day of Knowledge on 1 September, UNICEF and the Ministry of Education officially opened a new solar power station at School No. 36 in Mary - a project designed to make the school safer, more comfortable, and more energy-efficient, while giving students a real-world window into renewable energy technology.
The ceremony was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan, the Head of the Mary Velayat Main Department of Education, the Principal of School No. 36, the State Energy Institute of Turkmenistan, the Scientific-Production Center "Renewable Energy Sources," and the Pedagogical School named after Khydyr Deryaev.
Turkmenistan's continental climate with summer temperatures reaching +50°C and winter lows of –20°C places significant strain on schools. To address this, UNICEF with the Ministry of Education conducted energy audits in selected schools under the Green School Programme and designed targeted solution for Secondary School No. 36 in Mary. Improving school infrastructure is a significant component of the Green School Programme, alongside broader efforts to make learning environments safer, healthier, and more sustainable for children.
The newly installed solar power station at School No. 36 features a 12.5 kW grid-connected photovoltaic array paired with 48-kWh lithium battery storage and a hybrid inverter, providing reliable power for outdoor and sports-field lighting, including during evening hours and grid outages. It also includes inverter-type air conditioners and digital monitoring equipment that tracks solar generation, battery status, and energy use in real time — data that will also be used for educational purposes.
Beyond generating clean electricity, the station has been designed as a practical, visible teaching tool, a learning laboratory. Its location near the State Energy Institute of Turkmenistan positions it to become a resource not only for students of School No. 36, but for students from across Mary Velayat and beyond.
The project reflects and supports Turkmenistan's national climate and energy priorities. Under its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the Paris Agreement, Turkmenistan has committed to a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, compared to 2010 levels. The Government has also been advancing renewable energy through supportive legislation and major solar and wind investments across the country, guided by the National Strategy for the Development of Renewable Energy of Turkmenistan until 2030.
School No. 36 solar station translates these national commitments into a tangible benefit for children, demonstrating how clean, renewable energy solutions can directly improve the everyday learning environment.
"Every child should have the opportunity to learn in a school environment that is safe, comfortable, and better prepared for Turkmenistan's changing climate. This solar station is a practical example of how national climate ambition, government leadership, and child-centred design can come together to benefit children. It will help light the way for children's sports and play, and we hope it will also inspire curiosity among young people who may one day contribute to the country's clean energy future," said Jalpa Ratna, UNICEF Representative in Turkmenistan.
