How much does a rooftop solar system cost in New Zealand?

As of 2025, a high-quality, fully installed system typically costs:

Small System (5kW): $10,000 - $12,000 (Ideal for lower-use homes or those on a budget). 

*Add $7,000 - $10,000 for the right sized battery.

Medium System (9kW): $17,000 - $20,000 (The most popular size in NZ, suitable for a typical family home). 

*Add $11,000 - $19,000 for the right sized battery.

Large System (13kW ): $24,000 - $27,000+ (Best for large homes)

*Add $15,000 - $25,000 for the right sized battery.

The final price depends on the quality of the panels and inverter, your roof type, and the complexity of the installation.

Are there any government incentives or rebates for solar?

This is a common point of confusion. The short answer is no, there are no direct government cash rebates or subsidies for residential solar installations in New Zealand.

The real financial incentives come from two other places:

Bank "Green Loans": All major NZ banks (Westpac, ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Kiwibank) offer low-interest or even 0% interest loans for home sustainability upgrades, including solar. This is the primary tool for financing a system without large upfront costs.

Retailer Buy-Back Rates: When you produce more power than you use, your energy retailer purchases it from you. Energy retailers compete on these "buy-back" rates. Choosing a retailer with a good rate (e.g., 12c-21c per kWh) is a key part of your system's financial return. 

What's the typical payback period or ROI in NZ?

For a well-designed system, you can expect a return on investment (ROI) of 10 - 17% and a payback period of 6 to 9 years. 

Your exact payback depends heavily on a variety of factors, but ultimately is based on cost vs savings. Great system design is essential for the best result.

How does Equity Solar Brokers get paid?

That's an excellent question, and we believe in being 100% transparent about how this works.

It's simple: Our service is completely free for you, the homeowner.

Here’s how we get paid:

Solar installation companies have large marketing budgets—some in the millions of dollars—that they spend on TV ads, billboards, and online advertising to find new customers.

Instead of them spending that money hoping to find you, we bring them qualified, informed customers (like you) who are ready to go. When you choose the best quote from the options we present and the job is complete, we charge the winning installer a small fee.

They are happy to pay this because it's a more efficient and cost-effective way for them to find work. This model allows you to get independent advice, multiple vetted quotes, and a better outcome, all without paying me a cent.

What’s the difference between using a solar broker and going to an installer directly?

Think of it like using a mortgage broker instead of walking into a single bank.

An installer works for one company and will sell you the specific brands they are partnered with.

A broker (like us) works for you. We are independent and not tied to any single brand or installer.

Our value is in:

Independent Advice: We'll help you determine the right system size for your needs, not just the one an installer wants to sell.

Vetting Installers: The industry has some cowboys. We only work with a network of pre-vetted, high-quality, SEANZ (Sustainable Energy Association New Zealand) accredited installers.

Comparing Quotes: We'll get 2-3 quotes for your project and present them in a simple, apple-to-apples comparison. This saves you time and ensures you're not overpaying or buying low-quality, uncertified gear.

My roof doesn't face perfectly north. Is solar still worth it?

Absolutely! This is a huge myth. While a north-facing roof is "optimal," panels on east and west-facing roofs are extremely effective.

An east-west system can be fantastic, as it catches the morning sun (when you're getting ready for work) and the late afternoon sun (when you're coming home and starting dinner).

We can model the exact output based on your roof's orientation (or "azimuth") and pitch.

What’s the actual installation process like?

It's a straightforward 6-step process that we manage for you:

Site Assessment & Quote: We analyse your power bills and roof (either remotely or in-person) to design the right system and get quotes.

Acceptance & Design: You choose your preferred quote. The installer then creates a final design and plan.

Documentation: The installer handles all the paperwork with your lines company and electricity retailer.

Installation: This usually takes just 1-2 days. The team installs the mounting, panels, and inverter.

Inspection & Connection: A registered electrician inspects and signs off on the work. Your power company will then install (or update) your smart meter.

Switch-On & Monitoring: The inspector will switch on the system! You'll get an app on your phone to see exactly how much power you're generating in real-time.

Do I need a building consent for solar panels?

Great news! As of late 2025, most rooftop solar installations no longer require building consent from your local council. This has removed a significant amount of cost and red tape.

The only common exceptions are for very large systems (over 40 square metres) or if your home is in a designated "very high wind zone," which would require a simple engineer's review.

Should I get a solar battery?

Our honest answer for most people right now is: "Maybe, but probably not yet."

Batteries are fantastic for energy independence and blackout protection. However, they are still expensive and can double the cost of your system, pushing your payback period out to 8+ years.

Should I prepare for a solar battery?

In our consultations, most people ask us if they should prepare for a battery with a battery ready inverter (also called a hybrid inverter). Truth is, most models being sold in NZ right now weren’t being sold 3 years ago, and those sold 3 years ago werent being sold 6 years ago. 

Just one company alone, a large one, has changed batteries roughly every 12 months. (LG, Panasonic, Q-Cells, Tesla, BYD, GivEnergy).

The customers of theirs from 2 to 3 years back that prepared for a battery by purchasing a hybrid inverter can no longer get the battery they thought would be available.

And this is generally the case for customers of every other solar company out there, unless they went with an open branded inverter - but that is quite uncommon.

Our general recommendation is that if you want to add a battery within 18 months, you should prepare for it with the compatible hybrid inverter. Any later, and you shouldn’t waste your money on a hybrid inverter. 

What maintenance do solar panels actually need?

They are impressively low-maintenance. The main things are:

Cleaning: In most areas, rain does a good job. We recommend a professional clean once every 18 months or every 12 months if you're in a dusty area or right on the coast (to remove salt spray).

Checking: Once a month, just check your monitoring app to ensure it's all working.

Inspecting: Get a professional electrician to do a full "health check"

on the system (wiring, inverter, panels) every 3 - 5 years.

What are the most common problems you see in New Zealand?

This is where working with a good broker or installer is crucial. The main problems I'm called to fix are:

Poorly sized batteries: We’ve seen solar companies installing huge batteries on systems with poor winter performance. Batteries should be sized for winter, or maybe for spring and autumn.

Inverters installed in the sun: Most inverter failures occur because the installers put them in the wrong place. 

Shading Issues: Many solar companies draw panels over a 2d image, and ignore the losses from shading. Some even promise that their equipment mitigates the loss from shading. Buyer beware, no matter how sophisticated the technology, nothing can generate its own sunlight. 3D modelling with sun tracking is essential to understand the losses from shading.

Wrong System Size: Homeowners are often "oversold" a huge system they don't need or "undersold" a system that's too small to make a real difference. The devil is in the detail, which quite conveniently, many solar companies glaze over.