Sunpool

About Sunpool

A community energy co-operative turning Christchurch rooftops into a power station.

Our mission

Solar homeowners in New Zealand have been getting a raw deal on buyback rates for years. Energy retailers set the terms, and individual households have no leverage to negotiate.

Sunpool exists to change that. By uniting solar households in Christchurch into a single co-operative, we create the collective bargaining power needed to demand fair rates for the clean energy our members generate.

We're not a retailer. We're not a generator in the traditional sense. We're a community of 6,642 homes that decided the grid should pay a fair price for their power.

The Christchurch solar story

9,489 Solar-powered homes in Christchurch
47.4 MW Total installed capacity in the region
6.6 kW Average new installation size
2x Installations have doubled since 2020

Solar adoption in Christchurch has seen significant expansion, with installations more than doubling since 2020. The region now boasts 9,489 solar-powered homes, representing a total installed capacity of 47.4 MW.

Sunpool represents approximately 70% of this solar community. That's not just a membership number - it's a genuine distributed power plant, larger than many of New Zealand's traditional hydro stations.

New installations averaging 6.6 kW reflect the growing momentum toward renewable energy. Every new rooftop that joins the pool makes the collective stronger.

Community-owned energy

Sunpool is structured as a co-operative. That means it's owned by its members, run for its members, and accountable to its members. There are no external shareholders taking a cut.

Transparent

Every member can see how rates are negotiated, what the collective earns, and where the money goes.

Democratic

Major decisions are made by members. One home, one vote - regardless of system size.

Local

Christchurch-focused. We know the local grid, the local conditions, and the local community.

Growth projections

At our current 30% year-on-year growth rate, Sunpool's virtual power plant is on track to become one of the most significant generation assets in Canterbury.

Members

2026
6,642
2027
8,634
2028
11,224
2029
14,591
2030
18,968

Capacity (MW)

2026
33.2
2027
43.2
2028
56.1
2029
73.0
2030
94.8

By 2030, Sunpool could represent nearly 95 MW of distributed generation - comparable to mid-sized hydro stations like Waipori (84 MW combined).

Be part of something bigger

Every rooftop that joins makes the pool stronger for everyone.

Join Sunpool