Should rooftop solar be a priority in New Zealand?

A much better option, we suggest, would be to prioritise the expansion of rooftop solar throughout New Zealand. This could not only add significantly to the overall electricity supply, but also help bring down prices. Rooftop solar at scale

Will a solar rooftop system reduce electricity prices in NZ?

Based on the Australian experience, we estimate modest subsidies for the capital cost of installing solar rooftop systems would add the equivalent of 700 megawatts a year (2 percent of the total) to the electricity supply. This significant new supply will reduce electricity prices. NZ’s energy advantage

How many rooftop solar panels are there in New Zealand?

There is about 200 MW of rooftop solar on residential buildings across New Zealand. The rest is commercial and industrial solar installations, where the business uses some or all of the solar generation on site. Any leftover generation is fed into the distribution network for other businesses and households to use.

Can Auckland's rooftops power a solar power plant?

With a total land area of 93 hectares and 63 megawatts of capacity, the solar plant will generate enough renewable energy to power approximately 13,000 homes. We explore how this land area could be distributed on Auckland’s rooftops. The rooftops of 14 of Auckland’s largest buildings have the same land area as New Zealand’s largest solar farm.

How can photovoltaics benefit New Zealand?

New Zealand’s huge hydro storage advantage means photovoltaics, particularly rooftop systems, can unlock real benefits for customers. This could mean shifting the management of the legacy hydro assets to provide a high-value product – stored energy – rather than the gentailers simply using hydro generation to maximise profits.

Does New Zealand have an energy storage advantage?

Australia’s energy market operator expects rooftop solar (which already supplies almost three times as much electricity annually as gas generators do) will become the dominant source of electricity supply over the next two decades. None of those countries have the energy storage advantage New Zealand has.