New Zealand food, dairy and wine production are set to benefit from new on-farm insights about how solar and batteries could cut power prices and build on-farm resilience. 

EECA (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority) has today announced the first 32 farms that will demonstrate the benefits of solar energy systems and batteries as part of the Government’s Solar on farms initiative – providing support, data and real-life examples from goat farms to greenhouses.  

“Farms across New Zealand, especially those using irrigation and other energy-intensive systems, are facing increasingly high and unpredictable energy costs. This adds real pressure to already tight margins,” says Energy Minister Simon Watts. 

“The demonstration farms announced today will contribute vital insights and data for our farming community. 

“A dedicated EECA team has also been set up to provide independent advice, answer questions, and help break down any barriers.  

“Farmers and growers are generally aware of the technology but need more certainty of the return on investment and whether it actually stacks up for their business or specific farm types – this is the next step in addressing those challenges.”   

Early EECA modelling suggests if 30 per cent of Kiwi farms installed larger systems – of the size we see on some farms already – they could generate as much as 10 per cent of New Zealand’s current electricity demand. 

“There’s tremendous interest due to the potential to both reduce energy costs and build on-farm resilience. We know many in our rural communities face outages and challenges with energy security,” says Richard Briggs, EECA Group Manager Delivery and Partnerships. 

“Solar and batteries together provide a possible solution to significantly reduce the vulnerability of important domestic and export sectors. Plus, vital systems like chillers and irrigation often use a great deal of power and could be making the most of solar energy during the day.” 

After a nationwide search for a spread of different farm types and locations, 40 farms were selected to demonstrate solar and batteries. Ten different farm types are covered by the demonstration programme including: dairy, sheep and beef, and other livestock farms, poultry, arable, horticulture (including berries, vegetables, tomatoes, stone fruit, and avocadoes), plant nurseries, and wine.  

The first 32 announced today will receive partial funding, which covers 40% of the cost of an inverter and battery, and 20% for the rest of a solar system. The contracts for the remaining farms are being finalised. 

Participating farms will share energy use data, installation and operating insights, and host on-farm demonstrations to help other farmers to learn face to face how they might implement a solar and batteries into their day to day. 

“By incorporating battery storage and managing network impacts, we’re helping create a long-term pathway for scalable renewable uptake, while setting farmers and growers up for long-term success,” said Briggs.  

The Solar on farms programme includes access to direct advice via a dedicated 0800 number, and an online information and resource hub.  

Data from the demonstration farms will feed into tailored feasibility and case studies, and help identify system challenges such as limitations and differences for local and regional consenting and Electricity Distribution Businesses. 

Additional information

  • Demonstration farms were selected based on a range of criteria aimed at ensuring a representative spread of farm types and regions around the country.  
  • Of the 32 contracted demonstration farms, four have existing solar arrays with support provided for battery installs only. 
  • Total funding for the 32 contracted demonstration farms: $2,116,000 
  • Over 230 farms applied to demonstrate solar and batteries. 
  • Solar generation capacity ranges from 30kW through to 500kW. Battery storage capacity ranges from 30kWh through to 500kWh.  
  • Installations began January 2026, with all systems expected to be installed and running by July 2026. Data collection will continue for up to 3 years to understand the full impact of the system over time 
  • An EECA survey of 220 farmers found almost 80% had not yet installed solar but were open to exploring the option – showing there is significant untapped interest but more support and insight is needed.  
  • All demonstration farms will take part in case studies or on-farm demonstration events during the course of the programme.  
  • Farmers and growers keen to find out more or who would like to discuss solar can reach out via the EECA helpline on 0800 300 643.