Solar panels to be installed in up to 500 schools in $30m Government scheme

Wednesday, 3 June 2026

Up to 500 schools will get solar panels under a $30 million Government programme aimed at cutting power bills and improving energy resilience.

Unveiling the initiative at Christchurch’s Hillmorton High School on Wednesday, Energy Minister Simeon Brown and Education Minister Erica Stanford said the solar on schools programme would help schools reduce electricity costs, lower carbon emissions and improve energy security.

“One of the things that schools often say to me is that they're using a lot of their operations grant in covering electricity bills, and we want them to be using that on young people, we're trying to get as much resource to the front line as we can,” Stanford said.

The programme includes $20m from Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority’s (EECA) community renewable energy fund and $10m from the Ministry of Education.

Budget papers show this is the only clearly identified solar-specific initiative.

They show the EECA portion is being paid for by reprioritising money from other energy programmes. That includes ending direct Crown funding for Ara Ake, which helps companies and researchers test and commercialise new low-emissions energy technologies, with some of its work shifting to EECA.

The first stage will focus on schools facing the biggest increases in energy costs, including those already lined up for diesel boiler replacements.

Stanford said costs of maintenance, repair and replacement would be covered by the Ministry of Education and schools.

“There’ll be some [responsibility] that sits with schools, but there’ll be some that sits with the Ministry of Education, depending on what happens over time.”

Between 80 and 100 schools are expected to receive solar panels in the first year, with installations beginning over the coming summer school holidays. The full programme is due to finish in 2028.

Hillmorton High School principal Sam Ainsworth said the school, which has a roll of 1400 and growing, spent about $9000 to $10,000 a month on electricity, on average.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, flanked by Education Minister Erica Stanford and Energy Minister Simeon Brown at Hillmorton High School in Christchurch during the announcement of solar power funding on Wednesday.

“We’re pretty stoked to be one of the early adopters.”

He said the saved money could go towards teacher aide hours for learning assistance in classes, or to support students with their literacy and numeracy.

Ainsworth said the school had probably been prioritised due to its large size, and relatively modern buildings.

Principal of Hillmorton High School, Sam Ainsworth says the school will be able to spend more on support for students as a result of the solar panels initiative.

“I think it’s likely also the fact that we’re growing, so we’ve got lots of new buildings coming on all the time, which is probably easier in terms of the installation of solar panels, rather than retrofitting.”

Te Kōmanawa Rowley School in Hoon Hay asked for solar panels but was turned down because the Ministry of Education said the buildings were too old, acting principal Niki Penny said.

She said the school’s annual electricity bill was $17,000 and a major cost for schools, paid from their operational grant.

Schools are being promised lower power bills under a $30 million government solar programme.

While she would like to use the extra money for teacher aide hours, an extra $8000 would likely to be “absorbed” by higher operational costs such as servicing of vehicles.

Christchurch already has several large school solar projects. The latest is at Hornby High School which has a 203.4kW rooftop array being installed by Christchurch-based COG Power under a 25-year power purchase agreement, with the company paying for, owning and maintaining the panels and selling the school discounted electricity.

The solar scheme follows an April fuel-relief package in which Stanford announced $37m to replace diesel boilers at up to 70 schools, after principals raised concerns about the cost of keeping classrooms warm.

Brown said early modelling by the EECA showed solar panels were expected to pay for themselves within five to seven years.

A standard 30kW system for a school could save up to $8000 a year in electricity bills, he said.

The programme will also include batteries and energy management systems at selected schools. Those systems will help schools monitor and manage power use, reducing their reliance on the grid.

The Government said the programme could generate up to 10.1GWh of electricity each year, equivalent to the annual power use of about 1500 homes.

Schools may also be able to sell excess electricity back to the grid, with the Government estimating that could generate $6.7m in revenue over 10 years.

No financial contribution will be required from schools.

The Ministry of Education will contact the first 100 schools in June and July, but has not yet released the list of names.

Schools will be prioritised if they face energy or fuel insecurity, higher energy costs, planned gas or diesel boiler replacements, a need for greater resilience, and if their roofs are suitable for solar panels.

The Government said solar and batteries could also help communities during emergencies, particularly where schools act as hubs during severe weather or power outages.