Keeping Childcare Running with Sol-Ark Commercial Solar and Battery Storage Solutions
How Commercial Solar and Battery Storage Helped Two Primrose Schools Reduce Energy Costs and Improve Business Continuity
For most businesses, a power outage is an inconvenience. For a childcare center, it can quickly become an operational challenge. Lighting, HVAC systems, refrigeration, security systems, communications, and classroom activities all rely on uninterrupted electricity to create a safe environment for children and staff.
For Harleen Kaur and Ravipal Arora, investing in solar was about more than reducing electricity costs. As owners of two Primrose Schools in Illinois, they needed a resilient energy solution that could keep their facilities operating during utility outages while lowering long-term operating expenses and maximizing available commercial solar incentives.
After evaluating their energy goals, the owners worked with Aura Greentech and Commercial Solar to develop commercial solar and battery storage solutions for their Plainfield and Bolingbrook locations. The result was two nearly identical systems centered around Sol-Ark 30K three-phase hybrid inverters and Sol-Ark L3 HVR-60 Battery Energy Storage Systems, delivering reliable backup power alongside significant long-term energy savings.
The Customer Story
Harleen Kaur and Ravipal Arora have spent more than a decade operating successful childcare centers throughout the western suburbs of Chicago. Nearly two years before the projects were completed, they began exploring solar with Aura Greentech after considering a residential installation for their home.
As those conversations progressed, the focus shifted to their two Primrose Schools, where solar and battery storage could deliver even greater long-term value. Beyond reducing electricity costs, the owners wanted to protect their businesses from unexpected outages while taking advantage of available commercial energy incentives.
Recognizing the scale and complexity of the projects, Aura Greentech partnered with Commercial Solar, an experienced commercial solar design firm with an extensive portfolio of commercial energy projects. Together, the two companies developed nearly identical solar and battery storage systems tailored to the operational needs of active childcare facilities.
The completed projects include:
Primrose School of Plainfield
- 58.5 kW DC rooftop solar system
- 2 × Sol-Ark 30K-3P-208V Hybrid Inverters
- 1 × Sol-Ark L3 HVR-60 Battery Energy Storage System (61.44 kWh)
- Estimated annual production: 72,665 kWh
- Designed to offset approximately 100% of annual electricity consumption
Primrose School of Bolingbrook
- 66.08 kW DC rooftop solar system
- 2 × Sol-Ark 30K-3P-208V Hybrid Inverters
- 1 × Sol-Ark L3 HVR-60 Battery Energy Storage System (61.44 kWh)
- Estimated annual production: 75,155 kWh
- Designed to offset approximately 101% of annual electricity consumption
By standardizing on the same Sol-Ark architecture at both schools, the owners created a repeatable energy platform capable of reducing operating expenses while providing dependable backup power for essential building loads.
Why Childcare Facilities Need Commercial Battery Backup and Energy Resilience
Like many small businesses, the Primrose Schools faced rising electricity costs and wanted to maximize every available financial incentive to improve project economics. Federal tax credits, Illinois renewable energy incentives, utility rebates, and accelerated depreciation all created an opportunity to dramatically reduce the overall investment.
At the same time, the owners viewed resilience as equally important.
Unlike many commercial buildings, childcare centers cannot simply close when the power goes out. Staff members are responsible for the safety and well-being of young children throughout the day, making uninterrupted power critical for lighting, climate control, communications, and security systems.
The projects also presented several real-world implementation challenges, including utility interconnection delays, additional electrical infrastructure upgrades, and coordinating construction around active daycare operations.
One moment underscored the importance of backup power. During commissioning at the Bolingbrook location, a utility outage lasted more than 12 hours on the day the school was preparing to host an open house. While utility crews ultimately restored power before families arrived, the experience reinforced why dependable backup power had been a priority from the very beginning. The project team successfully navigated these challenges while keeping both installations on track.
Why Aura Greentech and Commercial Solar Chose Sol-Ark
As Aura Greentech and Commercial Solar evaluated commercial energy storage solutions, they needed a platform capable of supporting three-phase commercial electrical service while providing seamless battery backup during utility outages.
Many of the systems considered either did not offer an integrated three-phase hybrid inverter with battery backup capabilities or required multiple products and additional control equipment to achieve the same functionality. Sol-Ark’s commercial hybrid inverter platform stood apart by combining solar generation, battery storage, backup power, and intelligent energy management into a single integrated solution.
Each school utilizes two Sol-Ark 30K-3P-208V Hybrid Inverters operating in parallel with a Sol-Ark L3 HVR-60 Outdoor Battery Energy Storage System, creating a fully integrated commercial energy platform designed specifically for the facilities’ 208V three-phase electrical service.
Unlike conventional commercial energy storage systems that rely on separate battery inverters and external switching equipment, the Sol-Ark hybrid architecture incorporates a built-in Microgrid Interconnection Device (MID). If the utility grid becomes unavailable, the integrated MID automatically isolates the facility and transitions to off-grid operation in milliseconds, providing virtually uninterrupted power to critical building loads so the daycare can continue operating safely and reliably.
By integrating solar, battery storage, and intelligent energy management into one platform, the Sol-Ark solution also simplified overall system design while supporting the owners’ strategy to maximize available commercial solar and energy storage incentives.
Commercial Solar Results: Lower Energy Costs, Battery Backup, and Business Continuity
Across both Primrose Schools, the completed installations are projected to generate nearly 148,000 kWh of clean electricity annually, offsetting essentially 100% of each facility’s annual electricity consumption.
The systems provide:
- Nearly 125 kW of commercial solar generation
- 122.88 kWh of battery storage
- Four Sol-Ark 30K three-phase hybrid inverters
- Approximately 100% annual energy offset across both facilities
- Significant lifetime utility savings supported by stacked federal, state, and utility incentives
Perhaps most importantly, both schools now have battery backup capable of supporting critical operations during utility outages, helping staff continue serving families while protecting day-to-day business operations.
As Ravipal Arora explains:
“Going solar was one of the best decisions we’ve made for our business. The incentives made the numbers work in a way we didn’t think was possible. What really gives us peace of mind, though, is the battery. We care for young children every day, and losing power even for a few hours is a serious disruption. Knowing the Sol-Ark battery can keep our school running during an outage means we can stay focused on the students instead of worrying about the lights going out. It’s been a smart investment on every level.”
For these two Primrose daycares, the investment delivered more than lower utility bills. It created a resilient energy platform that protects daily operations while helping ensure students, staff, and families can rely on uninterrupted service for years to come.