More and more solar systems are being installed across the country to harness the sun’s abundant energy, lower power bills and increase resilience.

What’s happening with solar?

New Zealand currently has 8 large-scale solar farms in operation, and several more in the works.1 A growing number of Kiwi homes and businesses are also investing in solar.2

For communities, there’s some government funding for installing solar on buildings that serve as hubs during emergencies, like halls and marae.

With upfront costs coming down quickly, solar is set to play a greater role in New Zealand’s renewable energy mix, alongside hydro, wind and geothermal power.

How many solar systems are there in New Zealand?

Electricity Authority data from January 2026 shows:

  • 81,671

    total solar systems installed

    856 MW capacity

  • 74,904

    home solar systems installed

    419 MW capacity

How much of New Zealand’s electricity comes from solar?

Solar’s contribution to our electricity supply is currently low, but there’s a solid investment pipeline for large-scale solar generation.

  • 1–2%

    estimated contribution

    in 2025

  • 6–12%

    projected contribution

    by 2035

2025 estimate is from the Electricity Authority. 2035 projection is from EECA modelling. Projections carry a high degree of uncertainty.

The rise of solar farms

Usually built by developers, utility or grid-scale solar farms are very large solar systems that connect to our national electricity grid, and contribute to New Zealand’s electricity supply.

The Electricity Authority reports a boom in grid-scale solar generation with several solar farm projects in development and many in the investment pipeline.3(external link) Those already in operation are helping to increase the level of renewable energy generation in New Zealand.

View the solar investment pipeline(external link)

Where is solar being used?

Solar systems are currently used to generate power for farms and growing operations, commercial buildings, industrial sites, community facilities and homes.

  • Solar for homes

    Look at your likely costs and savings, system design choices, the quote process, and what happens during installation, so you can work out if solar is the right choice.

    See if solar is right for your home

  • Solar for businesses

    Learn what’s essential to consider ahead of investing in solar, view case studies to see how a solar system benefits bottom lines, and understand your financing options.

    Consider solar for your business

  • Solar for farmers and growers

    Find out how solar gives you more control over energy use, and use our guidance and helpline to understand how it could work for your farm or growing operation.

    Assess solar for your farm

  • Community Renewable Energy Fund

    The Community Renewable Energy Fund (CREF) supports energy resilience through the installation of solar and battery systems on community buildings used during emergency events.

    Learn more about CREF

What’s the future of solar in New Zealand?

EECA modelling using the TIMES-NZ 3.0 data tool shows an uptick in solar generation from 2032 under 2 different scenarios for exploring New Zealand’s energy futures: Steady and Shift. The Steady scenario includes less change to our economy and energy sector than the Shift scenario.

View more detail on the scenarios(external link)

Developed by EECA and the BusinessNZ Energy Council (BEC), TIMES-NZ 3.0 is comprehensive model for finding the lowest-cost solution to meeting energy demand in any scenario.

Learn more about TIMES-NZ 3.0

Solar case studies