The Price of a Solar Power System

A grid-connected solar power systems now cost less than a quarter of what the price was eleven years ago in New Zealand. This massive drop in solar panel prices and other system components makes solar power more affordable than ever; a solar investment is now achievable for many, not just a few. Back in 2008, a standard 3kW solar power system cost around $40,000, in 2021 a 3kW solar power system averages at *$8,000 (completely installed).

What is the price of a typical solar power system in New Zealand?

Solar power system prices will be dependent on the systems size and the type of roof the system is being installed on. A small sample of residential system sizes in New Zealand are below, and the rough price of each.

Prices were last updated on 11/01/2021.

Solar Power System Size	Number Of Solar Panels	Cost
2 kW	Seven 290W panels	*$6,000 inc GST, fully installed.
3 kW	Ten 300W panels	*$8,000 inc GST, fully installed.
4 kW	Fourteen 290W panels	*$10,000 inc GST, fully installed.
5 kW	Seventeen 290W panels	*$11,000 inc GST, fully installed.
6 kW	Twenty 300W panels	*$13,000 inc GST, fully installed
10 kW	Twenty Eight 355W panels	*$20,000 inc GST, fully installed.

*Please only use these prices as a guide. The solar power system prices assume straightforward installation on a metal roof. Prices can vary based on a number of factors.

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Solar Power Systems With Battery Storage

Prices for grid-connected solar power systems, with battery storage, will be dependent on the size of the solar array, and battery storage capacity. A price estimate for a small system is as follows; a 3kW grid connect system with 6kW worth of battery storage (along with battery storage set up components) would cost about $17,000 installed. Compare battery system types and prices here>

The Goal For Installing Solar Power

When filling out our free solar quote-request form let the installers know what you are hoping to achieve with the solar power system. It could be that you want to eliminate your power bill, maximise your ROI, have a strict budget or perhaps maximise roof space, let the installers know. That way, installers know what system size to quote and will be able to give you a good idea of the corresponding price or prices for your request.

Different Roof Types Will Affect The Final Price

Installing a system on a metal/tin roof is generally easier and uses less components, therefore has a lower cost. Tile, bitumen and shingle roofs are likely to have a higher cost to install solar panels on. Tilting panels to a higher angle on flat roofs might be a requirement that could also infer extra cost.

Other Factors That May Affect The Total Price

Lines company charges - Some local lines companies don't charge to connect a solar power system to the grid, while others will charge a fee between $100 and $200 for administration fees to accept your solar power system exporting excess power to the grid. Find out every lines company solar fees here.
Council consent for solar - Most local councils around New Zealand don't require consent for solar installations. Find out which local councils do require consent here.

Buyers Guide for Solar Power in New Zealand

The exclusive My Solar Quotes buyers guide for home solar panel installations takes you through the steps of purchasing a solar power system for your home, and the factors you will need to consider at each step.

Click here to download the buyers guide - It's printable and can be saved onto your computer/USB or hard drive.

Watts The Price of a Solar Power System?

If you like talking and thinking in watts, the average solar power price per watt is now around $2.00/Wp (watt-peak, the maximum electrical power from a solar panel under standard conditions).

Solar Panels NZ Price

How much one solar panel costs in new zealand

Curious about the individual price of a solar panel? A solar panel is just one of the many components that make up a complete system and it's often the most discussed. One 300W solar panels costs approximately $300. Find out how to choose solar panels here.

Should I Resist Buying a Solar Power System?

The price of a solar power system has plummeted dramatically over the last decade, so we don't expect the same drastic price drops in the future. Expect to see a 3kW solar power system drop no more than $500 every year (based on current trends). In a few years a new solar power system's cost could drop, but the savings made on power bills (with a solar power system installed today) would mean greater savings in the long term.

It is also possible that solar power system prices could go up. An increase in price would likely be due to currency exchange rates.

There hasn't been a revolutionary change in solar power technology over the last 10 years, the energy collection concepts remain the same, but the technology gets incrementally more efficient every year. When referring to a solar panel, the term efficiency means the efficiency at which the panel converts sunlight into power. According to GTM research, conventional panels are likely to improve by approximately 0.3% annually, which isn't fast by any means.

Are There Subsidies For Solar in New Zealand?

There are no subsidies or incentives in New Zealand for homeowners to install solar power systems. The Government did provide subsidies for solar hot water systems for a few years, but that was never applied to solar power.