How many solar power systems are there in New Zealand?

As of the end of November 2024, 67,000 solar power systems had been installed in New Zealand. For new installations added in November 2024, the average residential system size was 7.3 kW and the average commercial system was 25 kW.

Why is solar power important to New Zealand?

Solar power is increasingly important to New Zealand as it provides a low-cost clean, renewable energy source. However, intermittent generation like solar and wind must be accurately forecast to allow the electricity system to coordinate itself efficiently.

What is solar energy in New Zealand?

Learn about solar energy in New Zealand, and its advantages and limitations. In October 2022, Electricity Authority data showed 43,641 solar systems installed across New Zealand, adding up to 240 MW. This makes up an estimated contribution of under 1% of total electricity consumption.

Are solar panels distributed across New Zealand?

rks across the country. For our research, we assumed the distribution of solar PV that is effectively as if every residence in New Zealand had the equivalent of a 3kW sol r PV array on the roof. We considered the impacts as being spread over the entire power system accordin

Will a solar farm change New Zealand's electricity generation?

Kaitaia solar farm, in the far north of the North Island, is the first of a number of solar farms that will change electricity generation in New Zealand. While New Zealand has over 300MW of solar power connected to the grid, it’s mostly been small scale until now.

What is the average solar system size in New Zealand?

For new installations added in November 2024, the average residential system size was 7.3 kW and the average commercial system was 25 kW. Although there are no subsidies for small-scale solar in New Zealand, the declining costs of photovoltaic have driven strong growth in household installations in recent years.