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Solar power in New Zealand

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Solar potential of New Zealand
Solar panels on a home in Auckland

Solar power in New Zealand is increasing in capacity, despite no government subsidies or interventions being available. As of the end of April 2024, New Zealand has 420 MW of grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) solar power installed, of which 146 MW (35%) was installed in the last 12 months.[1] In the 12 months to December 2023, 372 gigawatt-hours of electricity was estimated to have been generated by grid-connected solar, 0.85% of all electricity generated in the country.[2]

Although there are no subsidies, the declining costs of photovoltaics has caused a large increase in demand over the last few years. In 2009, the average turnkey price for a standard PV system of three kilowatts (kW) was about NZ$40,000; by 2019 this had dropped to approx. NZ$8,500.[3]

Distributed systems

[edit]

As of the end of December 2023, 56,041 solar power systems had been installed in New Zealand. For new installations added in December 2023, the average residential system size was 6.1 kW and the average commercial system was 46.9 kW.[1]

The largest solar power system on a school in New Zealand was officially opened in a ceremony in February 2019 at Kaitaia College. Kelvin Davis, unveiled a plaque to acknowledge the installation of the 368 solar panel project which is spread across the rooftop of multiple buildings on the school campus.[4]

By January 2014, solar photovoltaic systems had been installed in 50 schools through the Schoolgen program, a program developed by Genesis Energy to educate students about renewable energy, particularly solar energy. Each school has been given a 2 kW capacity PV system, with a total distributed installed capacity of 100 kilowatts-peak (kWp). Since February 2007, a total of 513 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electrical energy have been recorded.[5]

In January 2020 Foodstuffs announced it would be installing a 1.1 MW PV array on its new Auckland distribution centre.[6][7] In October 2020 Watercare Services installed a 1 MW floating array on its Auckland wastewater treatment plant.[8]

In 2021, Kea Energy commissioned a solar power plant in the Wairau Valley in Marlborough with a potential capacity of 2.2 MW, with current plans to build capacity up to 1.85 MW as at March 2021.[9] In June 2021, the Todd Corporation commissioned a 2.1 MW solar plant at Kapuni in south Taranaki. The facility includes 5800 solar panels and was claimed to be the largest grid-connected solar plant at the time.[10]

Large behind-the-meter distributed solar generation
Name Territorial authority Coordinates Capacity (MW) Commissioned Type Operator
Rosedale Wastewater Treatment Plant Auckland 1 2020 Floating Watercare
Redoubt Road Reservoir Auckland 0.142 (and 0.225 MWh battery storage) 2019 Roof mounted Watercare
Foodstuffs North Island Distribution Centre Auckland 1.1 2021 Roof mounted Foodstuffs
Countdown Auckland Distribution Centre (Wiri) Auckland 1 Roof mounted Countdown / Solar Bay
Road Metals – Rolleston Quarry Canterbury 0.53[11] 2024 Ground mounted Road Metals / Platinum Energy
Yealands Winery Marlborough 0.4 2016 Roof mounted Yealands Winery
Sylvia Park Auckland 0.35 2015 Roof mounted Kiwi Property
Hamilton Airport (Stage 1) Waikato 0.46 2023 Ground mounted Hamilton Airport
Mānawa Bay outlet centre (Auckland Airport) Auckland 2.3 MWp 2024 Roof mounted Auckland Airport
Distributed solar farm generation
Name Location Operator Number of Inverters Capacity (MW) Commissioned Coordinates
Wairau Valley Solar Farm Marlborough Kea Energy 1 2 2021 41°36′31″S 173°25′50″E
Kapuni Solar Plant South Taranaki Sunergise Not Stated 2.1 2021
Taylor's Pass Depot Marlborough Energy Marlborough Ltd 0.85 2023
Waiuku Solar Farm Auckland Lightyears Solar / Prime Energy 2.4 2023
Naumai Solar Farm Ruawai, Northland (Smiths Canal) NewPower Energy 4.8 2024[12]
Oakridge Solar Farm Glen Murray, Waikato Kiwi Solar Farms 4 MWp Sep 2024
Golden Bay Solar Farms Uruwhenua, Golden Bay 1.43 2023

Grid-scale plants

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In July 2019 Refining NZ announced plans for a 26 MW solar farm at the Marsden Point Oil Refinery, but by May 2020 the project was on hold.[13][14] In February 2020 Genesis Energy Limited announced plans for a 300 MW facility in the Waikato.[15]' In September 2020 Hawke's Bay Airport announced plans for a 10 MW farm on unused airport land.[16] In May 2020, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment released a study that considered the economics of grid-scale solar and gave forecasts to 2060, showing that New Zealand has potential for gigawatts of grid-scale solar.[17]

In February 2021 Far North Solar Farm applied for resource consent for a 16 MW farm at Pukenui on the Aupouri Peninsula in Northland.[18] The development subsequently stalled due to a lack of network capacity.[19]

In December 2021 Christchurch Airport announced it would be hosting a 150 MW plant at Kōwhai Park, to be scaled up over 30 years.[20][21] On 30 December 2021 Island Green Power announced plans for a 200 MW solar farm in Waikato.[22] In April 2022 Helios Energy announced plans for a series of farms with a combined output of 1 GW.[23] In May 2022 Far North Solar Farm announced a partnership with offshore investment fund Aquila Capital to build 1 GW of generation.[24]

In May 2021 Lodestone Energy announced plans for five solar farms in the upper North Island, capable of generating 400 GWh annually.[25][26] The 32 MWp Lodestone Two, northwest of Kaitaia, began generating electricity in November 2023.[27] As the first solar farm to exceed 10 MW, Lodestone Two was also the first required to participate in the wholesale electricity market.[28]

Operating

[edit]
Name Location Operator DC Capacity (MWp) Nameplate Capacity (MWac) Commissioned Coordinates
Kohirā Kaitaia, Northland Lodestone Energy 32[29] 23[30] 2023[27] 35°4′54″S 173°13′10″E / 35.08167°S 173.21944°E / -35.08167; 173.21944
Rangitaiki Edgecumbe, Bay of Plenty Lodestone Energy 32 23 2024[31] 37°59′46.83″S 176°48′35.86″E / 37.9963417°S 176.8099611°E / -37.9963417; 176.8099611
Te Ihi o te Ra[32] Gisborne Airport, Gisborne Eastland Generation 5.2 2023[33] 38°39′25.84″S 177°58′52.22″E / 38.6571778°S 177.9811722°E / -38.6571778; 177.9811722

Proposed and under construction

[edit]

Only solar plants over 5 MW generating capacity are listed.

Name Location Operator Projected capacity (MW) Status Coordinates
Ardmore[34] Ardmore, Auckland KAL 13 Under construction[35]
Ashley[36] Ashley, Canterbury Solar Bay Proposed
Argyle Solar Farm Wairau Valley, Marlborough Manawa Energy 65 Proposed[37] 41°40′11.15″S 173°12′7.25″E / 41.6697639°S 173.2020139°E / -41.6697639; 173.2020139
Ashburton Solar Farm Ashburton, Canterbury Lightyears Solar 7 Under construction
Black Point Oamaru, Canterbury Ethical Power Proposed[38]
Buckleys Road Brookside, Canterbury KeaX 65 Consented[39] 43°42′17″S 172°17′6″E / 43.70472°S 172.28500°E / -43.70472; 172.28500
Bunnythorpe[40] Bunnythorpe, Manawatu Kiwi Solar farms 26 Proposed
Carterton Carterton, Wairarapa Harmony Energy 133 Consented[41]
Clandeboye Clandeboye, Canterbury Lodestone Energy Consented[42]
Dunsandel Dunsandel, Canterbury Lodestone Energy Consented[42]
Edgecumbe[43] Edgecumbe, Bay of Plenty Helios 115 Consented[44]
Foxton Foxton, Manawatu SolarGen Proposed[38]
Greytown[45] Greytown, Wairarapa Helios 100 Proposed 41°5′55.8″S 175°26′21.45″E / 41.098833°S 175.4392917°E / -41.098833; 175.4392917
Greytown 2 Greytown, Wairarapa Far North Solar Farm 175 Proposed[46]
Haldon Mackenzie District Lodestone Energy 220 Proposed[47]
Hanmer Road Canterbury KeaX 80 Proposed[48]
Hawke's Bay Airport[49] Napier, Hawke's Bay Hawke's Bay Airport 40[48] Proposed 39°28′8.18″S 176°51′50.12″E / 39.4689389°S 176.8639222°E / -39.4689389; 176.8639222
Helensville[50] Helensville, Auckland HES Aotearoa 70 Proposed 36°41′20″S 174°26′20″E / 36.68889°S 174.43889°E / -36.68889; 174.43889
Hinuera Hinuera, Waikato Harmony Energy 110 Proposed[38]
Huirangi Waitara, Taranaki Harmony Energy 100 Proposed[38]
Irishman Creek Canterbury Manawa 220 Proposed[48]
Kaipara Kaipara District, Northland Manawa Energy 100 Proposed[48]
Kairanga[51] Palmerston North, Manawatu Kiwi Solar farms 27 Proposed
Kōwhai Park[21] Harewood, Canterbury Christchurch Airport 168 Under Construction[52] 43°29′45″S 172°30′38″E / 43.49583°S 172.51056°E / -43.49583; 172.51056
Lauriston Lauriston, Canterbury Genesis 63 Under construction[53] 43°43′51.56″S 171°47′21.95″E / 43.7309889°S 171.7894306°E / -43.7309889; 171.7894306
Leeston[54] Leeston, Canterbury KeaX 160 Proposed
Lodestone One[55] Dargaville, Northland Lodestone Energy 60 Proposed
Maniototo Maniototo, Otago Helios 300 Proposed[56][57] 45°4′9.34″S 170°6′34.64″E / 45.0692611°S 170.1096222°E / -45.0692611; 170.1096222
Marton Marton, Rangitikei District Far North Solar Farm 41 Consented[58]
Marton 2 Marton, Rangitikei District Energy Farm 110 Proposed[59] 40°7′30.99″S 175°23′46.12″E / 40.1252750°S 175.3961444°E / -40.1252750; 175.3961444
Marton 3 Marton, Rangitikei District Harmony Energy 103 Consented[60] 40°6′28.1″S 175°21′40.4″E / 40.107806°S 175.361222°E / -40.107806; 175.361222
Massey University[61] Massey University, Palmerston North Solar Bay 6 Proposed 40°23′30.75″S 175°37′50.42″E / 40.3918750°S 175.6306722°E / -40.3918750; 175.6306722
Mount Somers Mount Somers, Canterbury Lodestone Energy Consented[42]
Naseby Naseby, Otago Solar Bay 50 Consented[62]
Omeheu Edgecumbe, Bay of Plenty Far North Solar Farm 34 Consented[63]
Ongaonga[64] Ongaonga, Hawke's Bay Sky Solar Proposed 39°55′15.55″S 176°26′46.64″E / 39.9209861°S 176.4462889°E / -39.9209861; 176.4462889
Ongaonga 2[65] Ongaonga, Hawke's Bay Helios 100 Proposed[66] 39°55′37.57″S 176°25′10.58″E / 39.9271028°S 176.4196056°E / -39.9271028; 176.4196056
Ōpunake Ōpunake, Taranaki Energy Farm 110 Consented[67] 39°21′55.57″S 173°52′27.32″E / 39.3654361°S 173.8742556°E / -39.3654361; 173.8742556
Pāmu Rā ki Whitianga[68] Whitianga, Waikato Lodestone Energy 32 Under construction 36°51′2.01″S 175°39′47.33″E / 36.8505583°S 175.6631472°E / -36.8505583; 175.6631472
Papareireiā Maungaturoto, Northland Tupu Tonu 21 Under construction[69] 36°5′24.95″S 174°20′50.29″E / 36.0902639°S 174.3473028°E / -36.0902639; 174.3473028
Pukenui Pukenui, Northland Far North Solar Farm 16 Under construction 34°49′06″S 173°6′38″E / 34.81833°S 173.11056°E / -34.81833; 173.11056
Rotokawa Rotokawa, Bay of Plenty Tauhara North 2 Trust 105 Proposed[38] 38°36′33″S 176°11′25″E / 38.60917°S 176.19028°E / -38.60917; 176.19028
Ruakaka[70] Marsden Point, Northland Meridian Energy 120[71] Consented[72] 35°50′51.74″S 174°28′39.54″E / 35.8477056°S 174.4776500°E / -35.8477056; 174.4776500
Seaview Road, Seddon Seddon, Marlborough Energy Marlborough Ltd 5 Consented
Skinner Road[73] Stratford, Taranaki Ranui Generation 40 Proposed
Swannanoa Swannanoa, Canterbury Meridian Energy 200 Proposed[74]
Tahuna[75] Tahuna, Waikato Kiwi Solar farms 23 Proposed
Tauhei[76] Te Aroha, Waikato Harmony Energy 185[77] Consented[78] 37°35′18.17″S 175°43′18.75″E / 37.5883806°S 175.7218750°E / -37.5883806; 175.7218750
Te Rāhui[79] Taupō, Waikato Nova Energy 400 Consented[80] 38°53′44.49″S 176°25′25.55″E / 38.8956917°S 176.4237639°E / -38.8956917; 176.4237639
Te Herenga o Te Rā Waiotahe, Bay of Plenty Lodestone Energy 30 Under construction[81] 38°1′33.1″S 177°10′58.79″E / 38.025861°S 177.1829972°E / -38.025861; 177.1829972
Te Puna Mauri ō Omaru Ruawai, Northland Northpower 16 Under construction[82]
The Point Mackenzie District Far North Solar Farm 420 Proposed[83] 44°19′18.71″S 170°12′3.55″E / 44.3218639°S 170.2009861°E / -44.3218639; 170.2009861
Three Stream[73] Kaponga, Taranaki Ranui Generation 30 Consented[84]
Tikokino[73] Tikokino, Hawke’s Bay Ranui Generation 55 Proposed
Tolaga Bay Tolaga Bay, East Coast Eastland Generation 11.7 Proposed[38]: 67 
Twin Rivers[73] Kaitaia, Northland Rānui Generation 31 Under construction[85]
Waingawa Masterton, Wairarapa Masterton Solar and Energy Storage 100 Proposed[86]
Waipara Waipara, Canterbury Far North Solar Farm 135 Proposed[87] 43°2′52.03″S 172°43′58.09″E / 43.0477861°S 172.7328028°E / -43.0477861; 172.7328028
Waiterimu[22] near Ohinewai, Waikato Island Green Power 200 Consented[88] 37°28′35.57″S 175°16′14.7″E / 37.4765472°S 175.270750°E / -37.4765472; 175.270750
Ward Ward, Marlborough Energy Marlborough Ltd 15 Consented[89]
Wellsford Wellsford, Auckland Energy Farm 76 Proposed[90] 36°18′56.07″S 174°30′55.5″E / 36.3155750°S 174.515417°E / -36.3155750; 174.515417
Western Bays Kuratau, Waikato Meridian 500 Proposed[48]
Waingawa Carterton, Wairarapa Lightyears Solar 4.5 Under construction
New Plymouth Airport New Plymouth 10 Under construction

Cost-effectiveness

[edit]

Retail buy-back rates for solar power exported to the grid range from 7 to 17 cents, plus 15% GST if the system owner is GST-registered.[91] Cost-effectiveness of a residential solar power occurs when system owners aim to use more of their solar power than what they export, by means of timed appliances, turning on appliances when the sun is out, energy management systems and battery storage. Commercial buildings that use power during the day can get a high return on their investment.[92]

A 2015 study found that PV was more economical than grid supply if all the PV electricity was used on site and none was exported to the grid. For residential and commercial installations, improving energy efficiency is a lower cost option than PV.[93]

Statistics

[edit]
Source: NREL[94]
Installed solar generation as of 30 April 2024[95]
Network reporting region Installations Uptake (%) Total capacity (MW)
Bay of Islands (Top Energy) 2003 5.81 35.59
Whangarei and Kaipara (Northpower) 2,522 4.03 14.0
Waitemata (Vector) 5,642 2.13 30.8
Auckland (Vector) 5,673 1.51 41.76
Counties (Counties Power) 1,872 3.88 13.76
Thames Valley (Powerco) 1927 2.47 12.05
Waikato (WEL Networks) 2,772 2.78 18.5
Waipa (Waipā Networks) 1,180 4 8.74
King Country (The Lines Company) 219 0.95 1.94
Tauranga (Powerco) 3,680 3.93 21.37
Rotorua (Unison Networks) 574 1.77 3.52
Eastern Bay of Plenty (Horizon Energy) 679 2.68 26.98
Taupo (Unison Networks) 341 1.87 1.79
Eastland (Eastland Network) 576 2.11 8.14
Hawke's Bay (Unison Networks) 2,435 3.69 13.98
Central Hawke's Bay (Centralines) 377 4.2 2.44
Southern Hawke's Bay (Scanpower) 81 1.19 1.04
Wairarapa (Powerco) 1,172 4.3 6.42
Taranaki (Powerco) 1,605 2.54 11.95
Whanganui (Powerco) 739 2.22 3.82
Manawatu (Powerco) 1,438 2.43 8.38
Kapiti and Horowhenua (Electra) 1,545 3.39 8.02
Wellington (Wellington Electricity) 3,042 1.68 15.73
Nelson (Nelson Electricity) 1,598 5.43 10.77
Tasman (Network Tasman) 2,427 5.62 16.04
Marlborough (Marlborough Lines) 1,170 4.39 9.57
Buller (Buller Electricity) 46 0.94 0.24
West Coast (Westpower) 99 0.69 0.53
North Canterbury (MainPower) 2,009 4.64 10.98
Central Canterbury (Orion) 5,732 2.56 34.13
Ashburton (EA Networks) 526 2.51 4.54
South Canterbury (Alpine Energy) 825 2.41 4.44
Waitaki (Network Waitaki) 248 1.9 1.98
Queenstown (Aurora Energy) 619 4.06 3.62
Central Otago (Aurora Energy) 1,751 7.6 10.40
Otago (OtagoNet) 333 2.13 2.0
Dunedin (Aurora Energy) 700 1.23 3.17
Southland (The Power Company) 585 1.55 3.55
Invercargill (Electricity Invercargill) 151 0.85 0.93
Total 59,937 2.6 421.6


Solar power installations rose steadily from 2013 to 2019 (see table to the left for detail)
Solar installations – numbers, sizes and proportion of total installed capacity from 2013[96]
As at ICP count ICP uptake rate (%) Total capacity installed (MW) Avg. capacity installed (kW)
31 December 2013 2,236 0.11092 8.326 3.724
31 December 2014 5,423 0.26616 21.634 3.989
31 December 2015 9,377 0.45512 37.126 3.959
31 December 2016 13,654 0.65528 52.972 3.880
31 December 2017 18,049 0.85537 70.185 3.889
31 December 2018 22,355 1.04626 90.160 4.033
31 December 2019 26,476 1.22233 116.584 4.403
31 December 2020 30,639 1.39407 143.510 4.684
31 December 2021 36,618 1.65042 189.556 5.148
31 December 2022 45,886 2.02678 257.320 5.642
31 December 2023 56,211 2.44812 366.784 6.525

See also

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References

[edit]
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