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Commercial solar that pays for itself

New Zealand's trusted commercial solar provider. Cut operating costs, hedge against rising power prices, and meet your sustainability targets — with engineer-designed systems and four flexible ways to fund it.

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Commercial solar from Solar Hub helps Kiwi businesses cut electricity costs and protect against rising power prices with engineer-designed rooftop systems. Whether you want to own the asset outright, finance it with $0 upfront, or simply buy the power at a fixed rate below the grid — we've got a model that fits your cashflow and your balance sheet.

Why business goes solar

The bottom-line case for commercial solar

Slash operating costs

Lower your energy expenses with predictable, low-cost solar power generated on your own roof.

Protect against rising rates

Shield your business from volatile, ever-climbing electricity prices for decades.

Hit your sustainability goals

Cut carbon emissions and demonstrate real progress against your ESG targets.

True energy independence

Lock in predictable costs and keep critical loads running through outages.

Mega Food 203.5kW commercial solar installation, Auckland

Case study · Mega Food · 2024

203.5kW that pays back in 5½ years

Mega Food, a major NZ food manufacturer, committed to lowering its environmental footprint while reducing operational costs.

490% projected lifetime ROI
5 years 6 months projected payback
28 tonnes of CO₂ avoided annually
3 million km of car travel offset over system lifetime

View commercial case studies →

Our work

Recent commercial installs

Real Kiwi businesses we've helped cut power costs.

Hospitality

Conway Motel

80%+ power bill cut · projected $250k+ saving

Food manufacturing

Mega Food

203.5kW · 490% lifetime ROI · 28t CO₂/yr avoided

Community

Rauawaawa Charitable Trust

Hamilton kaumātua trust — power-bill savings redirected to community programmes

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Finance

Four ways to fund commercial solar

Match the model to your cashflow, your tax position and how you want to treat solar on the balance sheet.

Cash purchase

Own the system outright

Buy the system upfront and capture the maximum long-term savings with the lowest lifetime cost of energy. You own the asset, keep 100% of the energy benefit, and may qualify for depreciation and tax advantages. You also get a potential lift in property value and a natural hedge against future power-price rises.

Best for: profitable businesses with capex headroom and a long-term view
Upfront: Full system cost
Term: Asset life 25–30 years
You own: Asset day one
Tax: Depreciation typically available

Real benchmark: our Mega Food 203.5kW system is projected to deliver 490% lifetime ROI and a 5-year-6-month payback. Your figures will depend on your system size, usage profile and how much of your generation you self-consume — modelled precisely in your virtual proposal.

Payment plan

$0 upfront · own at the end

Prefer to own the system but keep the cash in the business? Pay nothing upfront and spread the cost over a fixed-term monthly payment plan. Instant online approval up to $150,000 — fast, simple, and the repayments are predictable from day one. At the end of the term, the system is yours outright.

Best for: SMBs who want ownership without tying up capex
Upfront: $0
Term: Up to ~7 years, fixed monthly
Approval cap: $150,000 instant online
You own: Asset at end of term

How it lands on cashflow: $0 upfront, fixed monthly repayment over a set term. For many businesses, power-bill savings cover a significant portion of the repayment — but this varies with your usage profile and current power rate. Exact terms and the savings-vs-repayment picture are confirmed in your virtual proposal.

Power Purchase Agreement

$0 upfront · just buy the power

Get solar on your roof with zero upfront cost. Solar Hub owns, operates and maintains the system — you simply buy the electricity it generates at a fixed rate below grid pricing. You start saving immediately and you're protected from future grid price rises for the duration of the agreement.

Best for: off-balance-sheet appetite or zero-capex policies
Upfront: $0 — no capital outlay
Term: Long-term agreement (10–20 years typical)
You pay: Per kWh, below grid rate
Maintenance: Solar Hub handles everything
You own: Optional pathway at term end — talk to us

How the rate works: your PPA rate is set below your current grid usage rate (excluding fixed daily charges). As grid rates rise over time, your PPA rate stays predictable — that's where the long-term saving compounds. The specific PPA rate and the saving versus your current bill are confirmed in your virtual proposal.

The 3 PPA steps: (1) we analyse your usage, supply & install the system at no cost; (2) the system generates power, you're billed for what you use at a rate below the grid; (3) Solar Hub owns, operates and maintains everything — you just get the benefit.

Green loan

Bank-funded with eco rates

Major NZ banks offer green commercial finance for solar installations, with discounted rates designed to encourage sustainable investment. Pair this with your existing commercial banking relationship and your accountant can structure it for maximum tax efficiency. We'll provide everything your bank needs to assess the application.

Best for: businesses with existing commercial banking
Upfront: Typically $0 (bank-funded)
Term: Set with your bank
Rate: Discounted "green" rate at initial fixed term
You own: Asset day one

How it works: a bank-set commercial green rate, fixed for an initial period, then rolling onto a standard commercial rate. Your bank will quote precise rates and terms based on your facility.

At a glance

Side-by-side comparison

Cash purchase

Payment plan

PPA

Green loan

Upfront cost

Full system price

$0 (bank-funded)

You own the system

Day one

End of term

Optional pathway

Day one

Maintenance burden

You

Solar Hub

You

Approval cap

n/a

$150k instant online

Site-dependent

Set by bank

Lifetime saving

Highest

High (less finance cost)

Moderate (Solar Hub keeps margin)

High (less interest)

Best for

Capex available, long-term view

Want ownership without capex

Off-balance-sheet, zero-capex policies

Existing bank relationship

Terms, rates and eligibility set by each finance provider and Solar Hub at quote stage. Worked examples are indicative and not a guarantee of outcome — your virtual proposal will show exact figures for your site.

Let's run the numbers

Get your commercial virtual proposal

Tell us about your site and usage and we'll model the savings, payback and the best way to fund it for your business — all without anyone needing to visit.

Get my virtual proposal → Book a 15-min call