Focus: Solar is cheaper than ever so why aren’t more Kiwis getting on board?

Homeowners could save up to $4,500 a year by switching to solar power.
Cinematography/Edit Ben Dickens
Additional Cinematography Carson Bluck
Focus Reporter Chereè Kinnear
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[@Chess323]

solar is still expensive for the average person.

[@nancydrew1102]

Most kiwis can barely afford groceries, pay a mortgage, Rates , Water , RUC, let alone swap electricity to solar. Can barely get basic internet to function out Waitakere yet we’re still charged the same price for everyone with fibre !

[@crazykiwican]

Family and neighbours have installed. They claim that with the costs it takes minimum 10-15 years to recover costs. Not including if financed or loss of interest.

[@manuhamoa]

As the cost of energy continues to rise, your payback period will be shorter.

[@honewhetstone1732]

Solar for residential has a few issues in NZ. The capital cost is too much, and the ROI may not be justifiable for everybody. Long term contracts offset the immediate capital costs but most people don’t stay at the same home for 20-25 years. I suspect the average time people spend at one property may be between 7-10 years. Can you get a better price for your property with solar installed? And if so how much? Enough to pay for it? Plus, I think our market is approaching 50/50 renters vs owners, so it’s not a choice that everybody can make. I think solar is a niche, and in NZ it seems possible to be able to completely disconnect from the grid and be fully self-sustaining. That is an amazing future, for a niche of homes, because it appeals to the higher end market, and maybe their batteries can also offer DER to support the system. All this of course depends on what area you live in and how much sun you get. For average consumers, I think it should be pretty simple, why bother solving the energy generation problem, that’s already been solved by the energy system? Let’s just promote good behaviour and using clean energy, without bearing the complexity of energy generation ourselves. That way whether you have a say on solar or not, you can help the planet, and the wallet. (Planet and wallet rhymed more than I realised).😂

[@utubewonderer33]

I'd get one if the cost is equivalent to 2 years of my power bill. Anything more than that is not worth it. Definitely will not take out a loan for it. Solar panel is very cheap in China. Why is it so expensive in NZ? Are we importing from US or EU?

[@dicky-duck6632]

yes, they are called like-minded solar panels😊😊

[@Amouselives]

I think the key reason is really in your first sentence, "Homeowners..." The vast majority of people don't own their own home and those that do largely don't want to invest on a much older home or understand the benefits. Landlords are keen to keep profits high while minimizing investments into the rental property itself. Government subsidies and programs that support the uptake are poor and almost non-existent.

[@lisalee6363]

They don't tellvyou the downside😢

"Solar is cheaper than ever" is relative. If you add a decent sized battery pack to take full advantage of the solar it will bite your bank account. It's not the cheapest form of power in NZ where we are blessed with 80 odd % hydro. The installation cost of full solar would pay an awful lot of power bills and realistically you will still be on the grid paying for connection and some power. If you have the disposable income to set up a system then go for it. I would.

[@growtocycle6992]

Hydropower might cost more upfront, but is more reliable, works 24/7, can be used to store power AND had a Much longer lifespan

[@milleniumfalcon8654]

When asked by electrician who set your solar up?.I did,solar is ok but you still need back up when☀️ don't shine,have old Diesel Ute doubles as vehicle & power generator ⚡

[@chriswong7075]

So why aren’t more Kiwis getting onboard? Was the question answered?

[@Richkill]

most likely the cost... Solar is like $5-15k in Aus with rebates and all that jazz. The video said it cost $25k.... in NZ

[@davidthomson692]

Without battery storage they are pointless

[@rcd5886]

The opposite is true, the most efficient and cost effective solar installation is a grid-tie one with just enough solar panels to meet your average daily demand and having NO Batteries. This way you completely offset all your daily average power consumption at your maximum kWh rate. Paying for the panels and installation cost of anything over your daily average consumption may provide some reverse fed power to the grid but you will never get a decent credit for that power so it is wasted capital expenditure. The ridiculous scenario presented by solar zero simply means that you pay no less than you already are for power (because your are paying the funding costs of the solar zero system instead) for 20 years and when the contract ends you have a solar panel array that is already decaying in its power output and you have a set of batteries that need replacing and they are over 50% of the whole cost, so you have to fork out again, so after 30 years you might break even but solar zero have made a killing.

[@nikkster01]

unless you do it completely and cut off the power grid its now worth it if the line charges are going to be $60/month double glazing and decent wall floor ceiling insulation is a much better investment for the $10K

[@1ishkar]

A lot cheaper for solar in OZ still to expensive in NZ

[@user-tx4pm2xq3g]

NZ is behind in the latest solar technologies. Normal solar panels are energy intensive to produce from mining and then the large amount of heat required to process. Perovskites are getting better and better with many companies researching / developing break throughs. Perovskite has had a number of break throughs lately better converting to energy & improved endurance / lifespan without losing capabilities, much cheaper etc..

[@dave24-73]

SolarZero is a con, you lock in for 20 years and pay way more that what the system is worth. All these types of agreements where you don’t own the system are very expensive. You would be much better going to your bank.

[@ronanwiniatamartinwalters9135]

Wind mills is cheap couple hundred dollars to set up

[@rcd5886]

The most efficient and cost effective solar installation is a grid-tie one with just enough solar panels to meet your average daily demand and having NO Batteries. This way you completely offset all your daily average power consumption at your maximum kWh rate. Paying for the panels and installation cost of anything over your daily average consumption may provide some reverse fed power to the grid but you will never get a decent credit for that power so it is wasted capital expenditure. The ridiculous scenario presented by solar zero simply means that you pay no less than you already are for power (because your are paying the funding costs of the solar zero system instead) for 20 years and when the contract ends you have a solar panel array that is already decaying in its power output and you have a set of batteries that need replacing and they are over 50% of the whole cost, so you have to fork out again, so after 30 years you might break even but in the mean time, solar zero have made a killing.

Except that most people's biggest energy demand is not during the day because no one is at home. Therefore, the need for expensive batteries to take proper advantage.

[@kevinansley7353]

In an emergency the athourities will take your house because it has power and if not them then someone else.

[@andyfuller2817]

😂

[@AmonAnon-vw3hr]

@andyfuller2817 why you laughing? I ran generators wjen there was no power during cyclone Gabriel and had multiple people creeping onto my property in the night to try and steal them. You think people won't steal during an emergency you're dreaming.

[@andyfuller2817]

Yeah but do you think they'll take your house? Sorry to hear about your experience.

[@grizzz6884]

@@andyfuller2817 the government is already taking our house's thought the way we are taxed