Every dollar a charity saves on overheads is a dollar that goes back into the work that matters. That is why we were proud to install commercial solar for Neighbours Aid Ltd, a Nambour-based charity that has been turning op shop sales into real change for communities here and overseas.

Who Neighbours Aid Are

Neighbours Aid’s mission is simple: to empower vulnerable communities around the world through the development of sustainable projects. The charity works with local people to tackle the root causes of poverty, supporting education, medical care, food production and community projects in Kenya, India and Israel, as well as here in Australia.

Most of that work is funded by the charity’s op shops. What started with a single store in Nambour has grown into a network of shops across Queensland, from Gympie and Caloundra to Morayfield, Warwick, Bundaberg and Hervey Bay. Volunteers keep those shops running, sorting, stocking and selling donated goods so the profits can fund projects that change lives.

It is a model that depends on keeping running costs low, and electricity is one of the biggest bills a retail site carries.

Why Solar Makes Sense for Charities

Op shops and community buildings use most of their power during the day. Lights, air conditioning, fridges, registers and sorting areas all run during trading hours, which is exactly when solar panels are producing the most energy.

For a charity, that brings some clear benefits:

• Lower, more predictable overheads. Less money on power bills means more money for programs and the people they support.
• Good use of donor funds. Supporters want to know their money is used well. Cutting a recurring cost is one of the most lasting ways to do that.
• A visible commitment to sustainability. For an organisation built on reuse and recycling, solar fits the values it already stands for.

Solar also works for tenants. At Morayfield, Neighbours Aid leases the building but holds the electricity account, so the savings flow straight to the charity.

The Two Systems

We designed and installed two commercial systems for Neighbours Aid in mid-2026.

Morayfield

At the charity’s Morayfield site, home to its Morayfield op shop, we installed:

• 40 × 475 W Jinko Tiger Neo panels (19 kW of panels)
• A 15 kW Sungrow SG15RT three-phase inverter

Our installer had the whole system on the tin roof in a single day, using a scissor lift and a crane, and it was commissioned on 4 June 2026. Jinko’s Tiger Neo N-type panels are known for strong output in high heat, which suits a Queensland roof, and Sungrow is one of the most widely trusted commercial inverter brands in Australia.

Currimundi

At the Neighbours Aid op shop on Nicklin Way, Currimundi, we installed the exact same system: 40 × 475 W Jinko Tiger Neo panels with a 15 kW Sungrow SG15RT inverter. It started generating on 29 June 2026, and by 8 October it had already produced 7,492 kWh of clean energy. That is energy the store no longer has to buy from the grid during trading hours.

The Result

The numbers speak for themselves. After the Morayfield system went live, the first power bill came in at $145, compared with $620 for the same period the year before.

That is a saving of $475 on a single bill, around three-quarters off, and money that can go back into the charity’s projects instead of the power company.

Neighbours Aid CEO Daniel Watts summed it up:

“So a very successful system installation.” — Daniel Watts, CEO, Neighbours Aid Ltd

Why Organisations Choose Tenmen

Tenmen Electrical has been looking after Sunshine Coast homes, businesses and community groups for 12 years, and we have earned over 400 five-star Google reviews along the way. For commercial solar, that means:

• Systems sized to how your site actually uses power
• Quality Tier 1 panels and proven inverters
• Licensed electricians who handle the whole job, including switchboard upgrades and Energex paperwork
• Ongoing monitoring and support after installation

Whether you own your building or lease it, we will walk you through what solar can save and what it will take to get there.

Ready to Cut Your Organisation’s Power Costs?

If you run a business, charity, church, club or community organisation on the Sunshine Coast, we would love to show you what solar could do for your bottom line.

Call 1300 836 636 or email [email protected] to book a site assessment and a no-obligation quote.