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Solar for Childcare Centres: Lower Bills, Cooler Rooms
Running a childcare centre means running a building at full capacity, every weekday, for most of the daylight hours. Lights, air conditioning, kitchen equipment, hot water and laundry all draw power while the children are on site. That is exactly when solar panels produce the most electricity, which is why childcare centres are one of the better matches for commercial solar.
Why childcare centres have high energy bills
Unlike an office that empties out at five, a centre keeps its heating, cooling and lighting working through the day, and often has a commercial kitchen, washing machines and hot water running as well. Add the need to keep rooms comfortable for babies, toddlers and educators, and the electricity bill becomes one of the largest costs outside of wages.
Energy prices have also moved up in recent years. Parents for Climate estimated that childcare centres spent between 14.7 and 28.9 per cent more on energy in 2023 than the year before, depending on location, which puts more pressure on centres that already operate on tight margins.
How solar helps
Commercial solar generates the most power in the middle of the day, which lines up closely with a centre's busiest hours. Instead of buying all of that electricity from the grid, a centre can use its own solar power as it is produced, which reduces the amount it needs to buy at standard commercial rates.
For a sense of scale, a 2024 analysis by advocacy group Parents for Climate estimated that the average early childhood centre could save between $12,400 and $14,600 per year on energy bills with rooftop solar and batteries. That figure is an estimate based on a sample of centres, not a guarantee. Your own savings will depend on the size of the system, your usage and your electricity plan, so the only way to know is to have your bills assessed.
Where battery storage fits
Childcare centres use most of their power during the day, so many centres will see strong savings from solar alone. A battery becomes worth considering when:
Your centre uses power early in the morning or into the evening, before or after the sun is strong.
Your centre exports a lot of unused solar power on weekends and school holiday closures.
You want more control over how much power you draw from the grid at peak times.
A battery stores surplus solar so it can be used later instead of being sent back to the grid at a low feed-in rate. Whether it makes financial sense depends on your usage pattern, which is why it should be assessed alongside the solar system rather than added by default.
Cooler rooms without the bill shock
For most centres, air conditioning is the biggest single driver of energy use. On hot days it runs hard, and that is also when solar output is at its highest. Powering cooling with your own solar generation helps keep rooms comfortable for children and staff without the full cost landing on your quarterly bill.
What to check before you install
Every centre is different. Before moving ahead, it helps to look at:
Roof space, orientation and condition, including any shading from trees or nearby buildings.
Whether you own the building or lease it, and what your landlord needs to approve.
Your recent electricity bills, so the system can be sized to your actual usage.
Your electricity plan and tariff, because this changes how much each unit of solar power is worth to you.
Whether the installer and the equipment meet Australian standards and approvals.
Frequently asked questions
Is solar worth it if our centre is closed on weekends?Often, yes. Most of your usage happens on weekdays during daylight hours, which is when solar is working hardest. Weekend generation can be exported to the grid or stored in a battery, depending on your setup.
Do we need a battery?Not always. Many centres see good value from solar alone. A battery is worth assessing if you have significant early morning or evening usage, but it should be based on your bills, not assumed.
Can we install solar if we lease our building?It is often possible, but you will usually need your landlord's approval. It is worth raising early, because it can affect timing and the way the system is set up.
How do we find out what we could save?Send us a recent electricity bill and we will review your usage, assess your roof and give you a clear quote with no obligation.
Get Your Obligation Free Quote
If your centre's energy bills are climbing, it is worth finding out what solar and battery storage could do for you. Contact the Amazon Energy team for a free, no-obligation quote.
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