Solar for New Zealand schools and colleges

Schools use power when the sun is up

Lighting, heating, ventilation, IT suites, kitchens and workshops all run between about 8am and 4pm on a school day. That is the solar production window, so power generated on the roof offsets grid power directly instead of being exported at a lower rate. It is the same reason commercial solar works, and it applies to a school more cleanly than to most buildings.

The honest complication is the summer holidays. Production is at its highest in January, when the site is close to empty. We plan for that rather than around it: the array is sized to the load in class hours, the proposal separates what is used on site from what is exported, and where export pushes the payback out too far we look at a smaller or staged system, or at storage.

A proposal your board can sign off

Solar Scope is run by electrical and electronics engineers. We start with half-hourly consumption data from your retailer, match it to the school calendar, and model the system against what the school actually uses. The proposal shows expected bill savings, payback and the options, and it is written to be read by a board of trustees and a property manager.

System engineering, detailed design, the network connection application and consent exemption assistance are done in-house. Where the roof structure needs checking we bring in a CPEng-qualified engineer. Installation, testing and commissioning are carried out by SEANZ-authorised, EWRB-registered electrical contractors, and we coordinate the project so the school deals with one team.

Panels are premium brands chosen to suit the site, including Jinko Solar, LONGi, AIKO, JA Solar and Canadian Solar, with Sungrow, Sigenergy and Enphase inverters. Final product selection depends on the project.

Installed around the school calendar

Work on an occupied school site has to fit the school, not the other way round. We plan installs into term breaks where we can, stage them building by building where that works better, and agree access, parking and site safety with your property manager before anyone arrives.

Handover includes monitoring set-up, so your property team can see production and consumption day to day and pick up a fault early. The same data can go on a screen in the foyer or into a science or technology class, which is usually the part the students notice. We stay on for technical support, and can look at battery storage for backup, or EV charging for staff and vans, when the numbers support it.