The Price of a Solar Power System

In New Zealand, grid-connected solar power systems now cost less than a quarter of what the price was eleven years ago. This massive drop in solar power system pricing makes systems more affordable than ever; a solar investment is now achievable for many, not just a few. A standard 3kW system in 2008 cost $40,000; in 2019 the same system averages at $9,000 (completely installed).

Updated for 2019 - Solar power cost: Sitting on the edge of your seat waiting for solar prices to come down? 2019 has yet to see any movement in prices for solar power systems.  The average cost in 2018 was $9,000 for a 3kW system, and so far, the same is true for 2019.

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

The cost of a solar power system 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 January 2019.

*Please only use these prices as a starting point.  The 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 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 will charge around $200 for administration fees to accept your solar power system exporting excess power to the grid. Find out exact prices here>

• Council consent - Select councils around New Zealand will charge you for consent.

Buyers Guide for Solar Power in New Zealand

The exclusive My Solar Quotes buyers guide for Solar PV 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 $3.00/Wp (watt-peak, the maximum electrical power from a solar panel under standard conditions).

The Price of Solar Panels in NZ

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. The price of one standard 280W solar panel is approximately $350.

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 the price of a new solar power system 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 NZ?

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.

Prices and How My Solar Quotes Can Help You Get them!

For a quick and easy way to start your solar power price comparison, click here to get 3 free solar power quotes.