Is Off-grid solar worth it in New Zealand?

Every now and then someone says: “What if I just got a bigger solar system and went totally off-grid?”

It sounds romantic, right? No more power bills. No lines company. Stick it to the man.
But here’s the thing: off-grid is a b**** compared to having town supply.

Winter: The Elephant in the Room 🐘

Take the 26-panel system we quoted with 20kWh of batteries. In summer it’s a dream — plenty of juice, batteries full, maybe even enough left over to run the neighbour’s spa pool.

But in winter? Those same panels will only produce about 40% of the home’s energy needs.

That’s not a gap you can shrug at — that’s a canyon.

To cover it, the client would need about three times more panels.
Problem is: their roof probably wouldn’t have the space.

So, What’s the Alternative?

Ground-mounted solar. Think 50 panels, chewing up lawn space and making your backyard look like NASA’s testing site.

Oh, and don’t forget a diesel generator for the dark, gloomy days when even 50 panels and batteries can’t keep the lights on.

The Bill Shock 💸

Here’s where it really stings:

• A giant ground mount setup like that (50 panels) would cost about $80,000.

• Off-grid systems also cost more than grid tied systems. The solar installer charges a fair bit more, because they know they’ll be coming back for maintenance, tweaks, and troubleshooting. (Batteries and generators aren’t exactly “set and forget.”)

• By the point above, we mean - the same number of panels in off grid costs a lot more than on grid.

• Unless you have the worlds best wet back fire place and gas cooking, most well-designed solar systems still need a top up in winter.

• Generator energy? About $1.20 per kWh at 2025 prices. That’s three times more than what you currently pay the grid.

Suddenly that “no power bill” dream looks more like an “eternal bill” nightmare.

The Hidden Value of Staying Connected

Everyone complains about line charges. So naturally, when their line charge goes up, some people think it's time to go off grid.

But even at $3 a day, or $1,100 per year - those line charges only require 6,470kWh to be sold to the grid at 17c, to cover their cost.

10 panels will produce about 6,470kWh per year.

If you're already looking at solar, and say - you're thinking about a 20 panel system - another 10 panels to cover your line charges probably only costs about $6000 installed.

Because the first 20 cost about $900 each installed, and after that, economies of scale bring the cost way down.

So, What’s the Takeaway?

Going off-grid sounds bold, but unless you’re building a bach in the bush with no access to lines, grid-connected solar is by far the smarter play.

• It costs less up-front.

• It delivers more consistent savings.

• It uses the grid as your safety net.

Put simply:
👉 Off-grid is for people who have to.
👉 On-grid is for people who want to save money.

And let’s be honest — you’re probably in the second camp.

⚡ Want a solar setup that makes financial sense? That’s exactly what we do. We cut through the hype and design systems that actually work for Kiwi homes — without the $80k science experiment.