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 at the end of December 2022, New Zealand has 255 MW of grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) solar power installed, of which 65 MW (25%) was installed that year.[1] In the 12 months to September 2022, 249 gigawatt-hours of electricity was estimated to have been generated by grid-connected solar, 0.57% 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

As of the end of December 2022, 45,761 solar power systems had been installed in New Zealand. For new installations added in December 2022, the average residential system size was 5.7 kW and the average commercial system was 38.4 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
Foodstuffs North Island Distribution Centre Auckland 1.1 2021 Roof mounted Foodstuffs
Countdown Auckland Distribution Centre (Wiri) Auckland 1 Roof mounted Countdown / Solar Bay
Yealands Winery Marlborough 0.4 2016 Roof mounted Yealands Winery
Sylvia Park Auckland 0.35 2015 Roof mounted Kiwi Property
Large standalone distributed solar generation
Name Territorial authority Coordinates Number of Inverters Capacity (MW) Commissioned Type Operator
Wairau Valley Solar Farm Marlborough 41°36′31″S 173°25′50″E 1 2 2021 Ground mounted Kea Energy
Kapuni Solar Plant South Taranaki Not Stated 2.1 2021 Ground mounted Sunergise
Taylor's Pass Depot Marlborough 0.85 2023 Ground mounted Energy Marlborough Ltd
Waiuku Solar Farm Auckland 2.4 2023 Ground mounted Lightyears Solar / Prime Energy

Grid-scale plants

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.[11][12] In February 2020 Genesis Energy Limited announced plans for a 300 MW facility in the Waikato.[13]' In September 2020 Hawke's Bay Airport announced plans for a 10 MW farm on unused airport land.[14] 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.[15]

In February 2021 Far North Solar Farm applied for resource consent for a 16 MW farm at Pukenui on the Aupouri Peninsula in Northland.[16]

In December 2021 Christchurch Airport announced it would be hosting a 150 MW plant at Kōwhai Park, to be scaled up over 30 years.[17][18] On 30 December 2021 Island Green Power announced plans for a 200 MW solar farm in Waikato.[19] In April 2022 Helios Energy announced plans for a series of farms with a combined output of 1 GW.[20] In May 2022 Far North Solar Farm announced a partnership with Aquila Capital to build 1 GW of generation.[21]

In May 2021 Lodestone Energy announced plans for five solar farms in the upper North Island, capable of generating 400 GWh annually.[22][23] The 32 MWp Lodestone Two, northwest of Kaitaia, began generating electricty in November 2023.[24] As the first solar farm to exceed 10 MW, Lodestone Two was also the first required to participate in the wholesale electricity market.[25]

Operating

Name LocationOperatorDC Capacity (MWp)Nameplate Capacity (MWac)CommissionedCoordinates
Lodestone Two Kaitaia, NorthlandLodestone Energy32[26]23[27]2023[24] 35°4′54″S 173°13′10″E / 35.08167°S 173.21944°E / -35.08167; 173.21944
Te Ihi o te Ra[28] Gisborne Airport, GisborneEastland Generation5.22023[29]

Proposed and under construction

Only solar plants over 5 MW generating capacity are listed.

Name LocationOperatorProjected capacity (MW)StatusCoordinates
Ashley[30] Ashley, CanterburySolar BayProposed
Argyle Solar Farm Wairau Valley, Marlborough Manawa Energy 28 Proposed
Ashburton Solar Farm Ashburton, Canterbury Lightyears Solar 7 Proposed
Clandeboye Clandeboye, CanterburyLodestone EnergyConsented[31]
Dunsandel Dunsandel, CanterburyLodestone EnergyConsented[31]
Edgecumbe[32] Edgecumbe, Bay of PlentyHelios115Consented[33]
Greytown[34] Greytown, WellingtonHelios100Proposed41°5′55.8″S 175°26′21.45″E / 41.098833°S 175.4392917°E / -41.098833; 175.4392917
Hawke's Bay Airport[35] Napier, Hawke's BayHawke's Bay Airport24Proposed
Helensville[36] Helensville, AucklandHES Aotearoa70Proposed36°41′20″S 174°26′20″E / 36.68889°S 174.43889°E / -36.68889; 174.43889
Kōwhai Park[18] Harewood, CanterburyChristchurch Airport150Proposed43°29′45″S 172°30′38″E / 43.49583°S 172.51056°E / -43.49583; 172.51056
Lauriston[37] Lauriston, CanterburyGenesis[38]63Under construction[39]
Leeston[40] Leeston, CanterburyKeax160Proposed
Lodestone One[41] Dargaville, NorthlandLodestone Energy60Proposed
Lodestone Three Waiotahe, Bay of PlentyLodestone EnergyProposed
Lodestone Four Edgecumbe, Bay of PlentyLodestone Energy32Under construction[42]
Lodestone Five Whitianga, WaikatoLodestone EnergyProposed
Maniototo Maniototo, OtagoHelios300Proposed[43][44]
Massey University[45] Massey University, Palmerston NorthSolar Bay6Proposed40°23′30.75″S 175°37′50.42″E / 40.3918750°S 175.6306722°E / -40.3918750; 175.6306722
Maungaturoto Maungaturoto, NorthlandSolar Bay20Under construction[46]
Mount Somers Mount Somers, CanterburyLodestone EnergyConsented[31]
Naseby Naseby, OtagoSolar Bay50Consented[47]
Ongaonga[48] Ongaonga, Hawke's BaySky SolarProposed39°55′15.55″S 176°26′46.64″E / 39.9209861°S 176.4462889°E / -39.9209861; 176.4462889
Ongaonga 2[49] Ongaonga, Hawke's BayHelios Energy100Proposed39°55′39.22″S 176°25′25.48″E / 39.9275611°S 176.4237444°E / -39.9275611; 176.4237444
Palmerston North[50] Palmerston North, ManawatuKiwi Solar farms28Proposed
Pukenui Pukenui, NorthlandFar North Solar Farm16Under construction34°49′06″S 173°6′38″E / 34.81833°S 173.11056°E / -34.81833; 173.11056
Ruakaka[51] Marsden Point, NorthlandMeridian Energy75Proposed
Seaview Road, Seddon Seddon, Marlborough Energy Marlborough Ltd 5 Consented
Skinner Road[52] Stratford, TaranakiRanui Generation40Proposed
Smith Canal[53] near Ruawai, NorthlandLightyears11Proposed
Tauhei[54] Te Aroha, WaikatoHarmony Energy185[55]Consented[56]37°35′18.17″S 175°43′18.75″E / 37.5883806°S 175.7218750°E / -37.5883806; 175.7218750
Taupō[57] Taupō, WaikatoNova Energy400Consented[58] 38°53′44.49″S 176°25′25.55″E / 38.8956917°S 176.4237639°E / -38.8956917; 176.4237639
The Point Mackenzie DistrictFar North Solar Farm420Proposed[59]44°19′18.71″S 170°12′3.55″E / 44.3218639°S 170.2009861°E / -44.3218639; 170.2009861
Three Stream[52] Kaponga, TaranakiRanui Generation30Proposed
Tikokino[52] Tikokino, Hawke’s BayRanui Generation55Proposed
Twin Rivers[52] Kaitaia, NorthlandRanui Generation30Proposed
Waipara Waipara, Canterbury Far North Solar Farm 135 Proposed[60] 43°2′52.03″S 172°43′58.09″E / 43.0477861°S 172.7328028°E / -43.0477861; 172.7328028
Ward Ward, Marlborough Energy Marlborough Ltd 15 Proposed
Waiterimu[19] near Ohinewai, WaikatoIsland Green Power200Consented[61]37°28′35.57″S 175°16′14.7″E / 37.4765472°S 175.270750°E / -37.4765472; 175.270750

Cost-effectiveness

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.[62] 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.[63]

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.[64]

Statistics

Source: NREL[65]
Installed solar generation as of 30 November 2023[66]
Network reporting regionInstallationsUptake (%)Total capacity (MW)
Bay of Islands (Top Energy)1,8875.4934.79
Whangarei and Kaipara (Northpower)2,3283.7313.23
Waitemata (Vector)5,3512.0828.68
Auckland (Vector)5,3291.4338.96
Counties (Counties Power)1,7603.6410.00
Thames Valley (Powerco)1,7852.3610.56
Waikato (WEL Networks)2,5502.5816.65
Waipa (Waipa Networks)1,1403.888.24
King Country (The Lines Company)2070.861.84
Tauranga (Powerco)3,3693.6119.20
Rotorua (Unison Networks)4571.412.84
Eastern Bay of Plenty (Horizon Energy)6252.473.01
Taupo (Unison Networks)2591.421.28
Eastland (Eastland Network)5302.047.57
Hawke's Bay (Unison Networks)2,0563.1111.42
Central Hawke's Bay (Centralines)3023.391.92
Southern Hawke's Bay (Scanpower)771.131.02
Wairarapa (Powerco)1,0884.015.76
Taranaki (Powerco)1,4672.4112.64
Whanganui (Powerco)7032.033.64
Manawatu (Powerco)1,2922.237.29
Kapiti and Horowhenua (Electra)1,4633.127.58
Wellington (Wellington Electricity)2,8181.5613.61
Nelson (Nelson Electricity)3363.641.55
Tasman (Network Tasman)2,2335.1914.46
Marlborough (Marlborough Lines)1,0463.938.68
Buller (Buller Electricity)400.820.21
West Coast (Westpower)870.610.46
North Canterbury (MainPower)1,8734.269.96
Central Canterbury (Orion)5,3492.4130.94
Ashburton (EA Networks)4842.323.84
South Canterbury (Alpine Energy)7562.213.98
Waitaki (Network Waitaki)2361.751.77
Queenstown (Aurora Energy)6663.553.89
Central Otago (Aurora Energy)1,6326.659.73
Otago (OtagoNet)3142.011.88
Dunedin (Aurora Energy)6601.162.91
Southland (The Power Company)5681.503.38
Invercargill (Electricity Invercargill)1470.830.91
Total55,2702.41360.25


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[67]
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

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Installed distributed generation trends". Electricity Authority. Retrieved 2023-01-29.
  2. ↑ "Electricity statistics | Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment". www.mbie.govt.nz. Retrieved 2023-01-29.
  3. ↑ "The Big Reveal: The Growth Of Solar Power In New Zealand - From 2013 To 2019". My Solar Quotes.
  4. ↑ "New Zealand's largest solar energy system on a school opens at Kaitaia College". SEANZ. 27 February 2019.
  5. ↑ "Schoolgen". Genesis Energy.
  6. ↑ "New Zealand's first megawatt roof top array". Revolve Energy. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  7. ↑ "Foodstuffs building country's largest solar panel roof". Stuff. 27 January 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  8. ↑ "Biggest solar farm in country installed on Auckland wastewater lake". Stuff. 2 October 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  9. ↑ Solignac, Morgane (21 March 2021). "New Zealand's 'most beautiful' solar panel farm makes itself home in Marlborough". Stuff. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  10. ↑ "New Zealand's largest grid-connected solar power plant up and running". RNZ. 27 June 2021.
  11. ↑ "Refining NZ plans country's biggest solar farm". New Zealand Herald. 7 July 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  12. ↑ Mandow, Nikki (15 May 2020). "Can our oil refinery survive?". Newsroom. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  13. ↑ Jamie Gray (21 February 2020). "Genesis Energy sets sights on north Waikato solar power". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  14. ↑ Georgia-May Gilbertson (11 September 2020). "Unused airport land will be used for country's biggest solar farm". Stuff. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  15. ↑ Miller, Allan (2020). Economics of Utility-Scale Solar in Aotearoa New Zealand - Forecasting Transmission and Distribution Network Connected 1 MW to 200 MW Utility-Scale Photovoltaic Solar to 2060 (PDF) (Report). Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  16. ↑ Denise Piper (14 February 2021). "New Zealand's largest solar farm proposed for top of country". Stuff. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  17. ↑ Liz McDonald (1 December 2021). "Solar plant powering 30,000 homes to be built at Christchurch Airport". Stuff. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  18. 1 2 "New Kōwhai Park at Christchurch Airport to generate renewable energy". RNZ. 1 December 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  19. 1 2 Sharnae Hope (30 December 2021). "$100m solar farm pitch for north Waikato". Stuff. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  20. ↑ Tom Pullar-Strecker (19 April 2022). "Top Google exec backs $1.3 billion investment in NZ solar power". Stuff. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  21. ↑ "Solar power: companies plan to start building at multiple sites". RNZ. 11 May 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  22. ↑ Tom Pullar-Strecker (12 May 2021). "$300m plan for five solar energy farms, providing 1pc of country's supply". Stuff. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  23. ↑ "Solar power: Planned network will increase generation eight-fold - company". RNZ. 12 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  24. 1 2 "Lodestone, Eastland's new solar power projects switched on, generating electricity". New Zealand Herald. 24 November 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  25. ↑ "Let the sun shine!". Electricity Authority. 2023-11-30. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
  26. ↑ "Let the sun shine!". Electricity Authority. 1 December 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  27. ↑ Peter de Graaf (27 November 2023). "'A task in itself': Country's largest solar power station built in Kaitāia". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  28. ↑ Andrew Ashton (11 January 2022). "Harnessing the sun". Gisborne Herald. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  29. ↑ "Tairāwhiti's Solar Farm Debut: New Zealand's Largest". Gisborne Airport. 2023-11-23. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
  30. ↑ "Residents seek answers to solar farm proposal". Stuff. 21 May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  31. 1 2 3 "Consents granted for three solar farms in Canterbury". The Post. 18 January 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  32. ↑ "Edgecumbe Solar Farm". Helios. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  33. ↑ "Solar farm a waste of elite soil – Edgecumbe farmers". RNZ. 29 November 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  34. ↑ Mary Argue (31 August 2022). "$140m investment". Wairarapa Times-Age. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  35. ↑ "Airport announces solar farm partnership". SunLive. 23 March 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  36. ↑ "Helensville solar farm plan faces some local opposition". RNZ. 25 February 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  37. ↑ Jonathan Leask (17 June 2022). "Large-scale solar farm planned in Mid Canterbury". Stuff. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  38. ↑ "Genesis Energy gives green light for large solar power plant in Canterbury". Stuff. 7 February 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  39. ↑ "Govt-owned Genesis, Saudis and Canadians building $104m solar farm". New Zealand Herald. 14 January 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  40. ↑ "Another huge solar farm in the works for Canterbury". Stuff. 11 February 2023. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  41. ↑ "The Solar Farms". Lodestone Energy. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  42. ↑ "Lodestone breaks ground on 32 MW solar farm in NZ". PV Magazine. 13 April 2023. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  43. ↑ "Central Otago solar farm 'could power 70,000 homes'". Otago Daily Times. 21 September 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  44. ↑ "Solar farm planned for Maniatoto farmland". Farmers Weekly. 22 September 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  45. ↑ Chris Tobin (23 February 2023). "Massey University in deal to have one of NZ's biggest solar farms". Stuff. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  46. ↑ "Ryman Healthcare partners with Solar Bay to build New Zealand's first retirement village-exclusive solar farm". Inside Ageing. 8 March 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  47. ↑ "Farm looking to expand into solar power sector". Otago Daily Times. 11 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  48. ↑ "Hawke's Bay: Ongaonga solar farm to be one of NZ's biggest, land to be 'retired' from intensive dairy to build it". New Zealand Herald. 20 December 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  49. ↑ "Second solar farm proposal for Ongaonga". New Zealand Herald. 7 August 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  50. ↑ Shilpy Arora (26 September 2022). "Proposed Palmerston North solar farm can power 5000 homes". Stuff. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  51. ↑ "Meridian Energy to build solar farm next to Marsden Point refinery". RNZ. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  52. 1 2 3 4 Catherine Groenestein (18 July 2023). "Two huge solar farms planned for sunny Taranaki". Stuff. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  53. ↑ "SMITH CANAL SOLAR 11 MW". Lightyears Solar. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  54. ↑ "New solar farm proposed for eastern Waikato could power 30,000 homes". Stuff. 17 February 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  55. ↑ "Application 2021-068 Tauhei Solar Farm (Harmony Energy NZ Limited)" (PDF). Ministry for the Environment. 9 December 2021. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  56. ↑ "UK's Harmony Energy wins approval for Waikato solar farm". New Zealand Herald. 21 September 2022. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  57. ↑ "NZ's largest solar farm to be built near Taupō". Newsroom. 12 April 2022. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  58. ↑ Matthew Martin (11 November 2022). "Green light to create New Zealand's largest solar farm, with 900,000 panels". Stuff. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  59. ↑ "A second large solar farm proposed for the Mackenzie Country". Stuff. 29 November 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  60. ↑ "Far North Solar Farm plans to install 200 hectares of solar panels on North Canterbury farm". RNZ. 31 August 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  61. ↑ "Fast-track consents granted for two solar farms in Waikato". Environmental Protection Authority. 22 December 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  62. ↑ "Solar Power Buy-Back Rates NZ". My Solar Quotes. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  63. ↑ "Solar Power Self-Consumption". My Solar Quotes.
  64. ↑ Miller, Allan; Hwang, Michael; Lemon, Scott; Read, E.Grant; Wood, Alan (24–26 June 2015). Economics of Photovoltaic Solar Power and Uptake in New Zealand (PDF). EEA Conference & Exhibition. Wellington. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  65. ↑ "PV Watts". NREL. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  66. ↑ "Installed distributed generation trends". Electricity Authority. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  67. ↑ "Electricity Authority - EMI (market statistics and tools)". www.emi.ea.govt.nz. Retrieved 2019-12-21.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.