SolKind

Commercial · By sector

Community sporting clubs and sporting centres

Community sporting clubs are one of the strongest fits for solar and battery in Australia. Large rooftops, predictable daytime energy demand from training and weekend games, and floodlight loads that benefit directly from stored solar. There is also a federal funding pathway, the Game On grant, with a second round expected in early 2027 that can cover a large share of the upgrade cost for eligible clubs.

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ROUND 2 EXPECTED EARLY 2027

The Game On grant is expected to return in 2027

Game On is a federal grant for community sporting clubs. It covers up to 100% of eligible costs, from $25,000 to $100,000 per club, for energy and climate upgrades like solar and battery storage. Round 1 closed early in July 2026 after demand exceeded the funding available. Round 2 is expected to open in early 2027. It is funded in the order applications are received, so it helps to have your system designed and the technical parts of your application ready before it opens. That is the part we handle with you.

Read the program guidelines on dcceew.gov.au

What we hear from this sector

Common challenges

  • Energy costs that eat into operating budgets the club would rather spend on members and programs.
  • Limited committee capacity for grant administration on top of running the club week to week.
  • Capital costs that are out of reach without external funding support, even when the long-term economics make sense.
  • Game-day logistics and seasonal scheduling that constrain when works can happen on-site.
  • Council-owned land or shared facilities where decision rights sit outside the club itself.

How we approach it

Our approach

Grant application support

We draft the technical and cost components of your application, including responses to the assessment criteria. Your committee reviews, adapts, and lodges. The grant rules require the club to be the applicant, not us.

Site-specific system design

Every site is different. We measure your roof, review 12 months of energy bills, and design a system sized to how your club actually uses energy across the season.

Council and association liaison

If your facility involves council-owned land or input from your State or National Sporting Organisation, we support any conversations that need to take place so your application stays on track.

Install scheduled around your season

Game days are important. We make our best effort to plan the install around your fixture calendar to minimise disruption.

What good looks like

Typical outcomes

  • Reduced energy costs, with savings returned to club programs and member benefits.
  • Battery storage that keeps the club running through unexpected grid outages and during peak tariff periods.
  • A funded upgrade pathway through the Game On grant, with a strong community story to support the application and future fundraising.

Actual outcomes depend on your site, energy usage, tariff, and final system design. We confirm projected savings and resilience benefits after the site visit.

What we typically install

Indicative kit and sizing

  • Solar PV systems, typically 20kW to 40kW for a single clubhouse and adjacent floodlight loads.
  • Cobalt-free lithium iron phosphate battery storage, typically 10kWh to 20kWh, sized to your evening and game-day demand.
  • Switchboard upgrades where required for the new system to be safely connected.
  • EV charging infrastructure where the site supports it, scaled to what your club and members will use.
  • Energy audits to validate system sizing and identify additional efficiency opportunities.
  • VPP-capable system design where applicable, so your club can participate in future grid services if and when you choose to.

Typical SolKind project sizing for this sector. Final sizing is determined by your roof, load profile and budget during discovery.

TYPICAL PAYBACK

Four to eight years standard. Potentially zero years with grant funding.

Commercial solar and battery typically pays back in four to eight years across this sector based on standard tariffs and usage patterns. With the Game On grant covering up to 100% of eligible costs for approved clubs, the effective payback for an approved club can be immediate. The system pays for itself from day one because the club has not paid the capital cost. Actual payback varies by site, energy usage, tariff structure, and final system size.