Solar for Schools
Cut power bills, build resilience, and get ready for the government's Solar on Schools fund.
$30m govt fund, up to 500 schools
What's happening right now
Budget 2026 launched a $30 million Solar on Schools programme from EECA and the Ministry of Education, putting panels and batteries on up to 500 schools at no cost to those selected. The Ministry contacts eligible schools directly — no application needed. Priority goes to schools with high energy costs, planned boiler replacements, resilience needs, and solar-suitable roofs.
The first 80–100 schools will be contacted through winter 2026, with installs starting over the summer holidays and the full rollout running to 2028.
The Ministry of Education prioritises schools based on need, not first-come-first-served. Your school is more likely to be picked if it faces:
Schools with unreliable or hard-to-secure energy supply sit near the top of the list.
Above-average power costs mean bigger savings and higher priority.
A planned boiler replacement makes for a natural pairing with electric heating.
Schools that could act as a community lifeline during outages are favoured.
A north-facing, structurally sound roof with room for ~30kW improves your chances.
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Turning Sunshine Into Revenue
Beyond cutting bills, schools can sell surplus power back to the grid — an estimated $6.7 million in revenue across participating schools over 10 years.
Our Solar for Schools Service
How we help, either way
System Design & Sizing
We size systems around your school’s actual usage patterns, not a one-size-fits-all number. Most schools land around a 30kW system, but every roof and every timetable is different.
Installation
Certified commercial solar installation, self-funded or financed, with minimal disruption to school operations. Work scheduled around holidays and school hours where possible.
Battery & Energy Management
Add battery storage to keep the lights, heating, and essential systems running during outages — and energy management systems to get the most out of every kWh you generate.
What to Check Before Installing Solar at Your School
School solar isn't a standard commercial install — the Ministry of Education has specific technical and approval requirements that need to be met before any project can go ahead. Here's what needs attention:
Building suitability
Not every roof qualifies. The Ministry favours newer buildings with simple, north-facing roofs, and excludes those due for demolition or re-roofing within 10 years — worth checking against the school’s 10-Year Property Plan first.
Structural sign-off
A New Zealand Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) must confirm the roof structure can carry the added load, including how it performs under earthquake, wind, and snow loading. This means a site inspection, review of existing building drawings, and full engineering calculations, not just a visual check.
Roof warranty
If the existing roof is under manufacturer warranty, written confirmation is needed that the installation method won’t void it.
Electrical design and capacity
A formal electrical report is required, covering panel positioning, cabling pathways, and confirmation that the switchboard has spare capacity. Roof penetrations for cabling are considered “highly undesirable” under Ministry guidance and should be avoided wherever possible.
Health and safety access
A safe, ongoing access methodology for maintenance needs to be built into the design from the start, given the site remains an active school.
Ministry review and sign-off
The full design package — condition report, structural calculations, electrical drawings, and Producer Statement — goes to the Ministry’s school design and electrical services teams for approval before any work starts.
Don't Wait for the Ministry to Call
Whether you're in line for the government fund or ready to go it alone, get your school's roof and switchboard assessed now.
Our Solar for Schools Installation Process
From eligibility check to compliance sign-off — built around how schools actually operate.
- Enquiry & Eligibility Check
We start with your power bills, roof type, and building age, and check whether your school is likely to be prioritised under the Solar on Schools fund or better suited to a self-funded install. - Building Suitability Triage
Before any design work, we check your school’s 10-Year Property Plan and roof condition against Ministry criteria, so we’re not designing for a building that’s due for demolition or re-roofing. - Site Assessment & Condition Reports
A structural condition report and electrical capacity assessment are carried out on-site, covering roof loading, switchboard capacity, and cabling pathways.
- Engineering & Design
A Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) signs off on structural loading, and we produce full electrical design drawings, avoiding roof penetrations wherever possible. - Ministry Documentation (if applicable)
For Ministry-owned buildings, we prepare the full documentation package — condition report, structural calculations, electrical drawings, and Producer Statement — for Ministry design and electrical services review.
- Installation, Scheduled Around Your School Calendar
Work is scheduled for school holidays or after-hours where possible, with health and safety plans specific to an active school site with students and staff present. - Commissioning & Compliance Registration
The system is commissioned, tested, and registered on WorkSafe’s Electricity and Gas High-risk Database as required, with all compliance documentation handed to the school. - Handover & Maintenance Plan
We hand over a maintenance plan and, where relevant, information on using the Ministry’s Property Maintenance Grant (PMG) to fund solar panel maintenance and repairs over time.
frequently asked questions
Straight answers to the questions schools actually ask.
Who pays for solar panel maintenance at a school?
For Ministry-funded systems, schools can use the Property Maintenance Grant (PMG) to cover maintenance and repairs not already included in the original installation package. For self-funded systems, this is agreed as part of your installation contract.
Does a school solar installation need to be registered with WorkSafe?
Yes. Solar installations must be registered on WorkSafe’s Electricity and Gas High-risk Database, with documented evidence provided as part of the compliance process.
Will solar panels void my school's roof warranty?
It depends on the roofing material and mounting method. Written confirmation from the roofing manufacturer that the installation method won’t affect the warranty is required before installation, which is why an early roof condition check matters.
How much does a school solar system cost without the government fund?
It depends on your roof, usage, and system size, most NZ schools land around a 30kW system. Book a free assessment for real, site-specific numbers rather than a general estimate.
How much can a school save?
According to the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), a standard 30kW school solar system can save up to $8,000 a year on electricity. Surplus energy generated during weekends and summer holidays can be stored in batteries or exported back to the grid, potentially generating revenue.
How can solar be used in the classroom?
School solar installations serve as an educational tool, offering hands-on, real-world data for STEM curriculums (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths). Students can track daily energy consumption and learn about sustainability.
Do school solar systems need a battery?
Not always. It depends on how much you want to reduce reliance on the grid and whether resilience during outages is a priority. We’ll walk you through whether it’s worth it for your site.
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