New Zealand has selected 500 schools nationwide for solar installations under its NZD 30 million Solar on Schools program
Some schools may also receive battery storage, while up to 150 could get energy management systems
The government expects the program to cut electricity costs, reduce emissions and create opportunities for local solar businesses
New Zealand has released a list of 500 schools nationwide that will be equipped with solar panels, and is now seeking expressions of interest (EOI) from solar system planners, designers, and installers.
These schools have been selected under the government’s NZD 30 million Solar on Schools program as part of Budget 2026.
According to the government, the selected schools have been experiencing energy or fuel insecurity and higher energy costs. These buildings are also scheduled for gas or diesel boiler replacements.
Under the Solar on Schools program announced on June 3, 2026, selected schools will be equipped with solar systems to help them lower their power bills, reduce emissions, and lower their reliance on the national grid, according to the country’s Education Minister Erica Stanford. Some may also receive battery energy storage systems. Up to 150 of them will also receive energy management systems.
“Large schools are expected to save around $8,000 a year on average on electricity, freeing up money that can be spent on teaching and learning,” added Stanford. “It will also give students a real-world example of renewable energy in action, right there at their own school.”
The list includes 340 schools in the North Island, 157 in the South Island, and three in the Chathams.
New Zealand’s Energy Minister Simeon Brown added, “The announcement not only provides certainty to schools across the country who are eager to get on with adopting solar power, it will support regional and local businesses and presents a significant opportunity for the industry to build capability and showcase the value of smart energy technologies.”
The initiative, Solar on Schools, is jointly funded through NZD 20 million from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA)'s Community Renewable Energy Fund and NZD 10 million from the Ministry of Education.
Interested tenderers can submit EOIs for planning & design and delivery of the solar systems, and may register for both. Their broad scope of work will include site assessments, consents and approvals, site-by-site design and cost-benefit analysis, sequenced across bundles of 80 to 100 or more schools. For the delivery component, the selected companies will need to supply, install, and ensure quality assurance of the solar systems.
Details of the Ministry of Education EOI call issued on August 10, 2026 are available on the Government Electronic Tenders Service (GETS), with RFx ID: 34614714. Submissions will be accepted till September 7, 2026.
Currently, hydro, wind, and geothermal sources ensure 86% of the country’s electricity comes from renewables, but according to the University of Auckland, going by electricity consumption, only 40% comes from renewables, with oil, gas, and coal making up the remaining 60%.
By 2035, New Zealand targets increasing the share of renewables in total energy consumption to 50%, while aiming for 100% renewable electricity by 2030.
A Rewiring Aotearoa report claims that New Zealand households could save around NZD 3,000 annually by switching to electric appliances, EVs, rooftop solar and battery storage (see Solar-Powered New Zealand Homes Can Save NZD 3,000/Year).
The government is also making efforts to simplify approvals for residential solar and small-scale solar systems (see New Zealand Plans Solar Rollout At ‘Lightspeed’).
