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Based on: — kWh/day · — kW solar · — kWh battery · typical tariffs

Solar & Battery Design Tools for New Zealand Design Systems, Calculate ROI & Find Installers

Design solar and battery systems across New Zealand using Photonik's professional design platform. New Zealand enjoys good solar potential, particularly in the upper North Island and the sunny Nelson-Marlborough region. With electricity prices continuing to rise, more Kiwi homeowners are discovering that solar panels can deliver meaningful savings and greater energy independence.

Solar Design New Zealand

Energy Usage

Energy bills in New Zealand add up quickly — with 25 kWh of daily consumption, solar can make a real difference to your monthly costs. With electricity prices trending upward, even small reductions in your 25 kWh daily consumption can noticeably lower your bills — and solar takes this further by offsetting much of what you do use.

Simple changes like sealing draughts, upgrading to LED lighting, and setting hot water timers often cost far less than extra solar panels and deliver immediate bill savings.

Typical energy usage per person per day in New Zealand:

Low (Efficient)
~3 kWh
Medium (average)
~4 kWh
High (intensive)
~6+ kWh

Note: Actual usage varies depending on property size, building efficiency, climate, and appliances.

5 kWh 100 kWh
$ /kWh
$ /kWh
%

lightbulb Note: These are simplified estimates. For detailed tariff inputs and advanced calculations, use the full Photonik app.

Solar System Sizing

A 6.6kW system covers average consumption, but sizing slightly larger can help offset seasonal dips and future increases in usage from EVs or heat pumps. For best results, size your system between 9.9kW and 13.2kW to account for fluctuations in solar output throughout the day and year.

While June is the weakest month for solar in New Zealand, February more than makes up for it — and a battery can help bridge the gap between seasonal highs and lows.

1 kW 20 kW

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A 5 kW system in New Zealand can generate approximately 7501.0 kWh annually based on local sun conditions.

Photonik — free professional solar design tool

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Solar & Energy Savings

Calculate Heat Pump & EV Savings

Electrify your home by replacing gas heating, petrol vehicles, and other fossil fuel appliances with electric alternatives powered by clean solar energy. This delivers significant additional financial savings and substantial carbon emission reductions. Our calculator helps you compare costs and model the financial impact of switching to electric appliances and vehicles.

Calculate Electrification Savings

How Solar Reduces Your Electricity Bills

The calculations below show how your electricity bills change with solar. Your Old Bill of - per month (- annually) is calculated from your total energy consumption multiplied by the grid electricity rate. Your New Bill of - per month (- annually) accounts for solar generation, the percentage you use directly (self-consumption), remaining grid consumption, and feed-in credits for excess energy exported to the grid. This results in monthly savings of - (- annually).

Join the Discussion

Getting the right solar setup depends on your location, roof, and energy use. Real answers from people who've been through it -- homeowners and local installers -- are often more useful than generic advice. Hit a button below to start a post -- it opens pre-filled, just add your details.

Ask the community

Get advice from locals who've been through it.

Share an install

Showcase your work to homeowners researching solar in New Zealand.

Battery Storage New Zealand

Solar Battery Sizing

Even without a battery, 50% self-sufficiency from a 9.9 kW system in New Zealand means a significant reduction in your electricity bills. Installing a 10 kWh battery boosts your energy independence to around 86% per year, cutting grid dependency down to 14%.

Accurate battery savings and ROI require the full Photonik design platform for comprehensive calculations.

0 kWh 30 kWh

lightbulb A 0kWh battery will make you about 0% self sufficient.

The sweet spot for most households is 5 – 13 kWh — larger batteries add independence but with diminishing payback, especially where feed-in tariffs are low.

Energy Self Sufficiency Calculator*

*Note: This calculator provides simplified battery self-sufficiency estimates. For accurate per-hour simulations that account for solar generation patterns, consumption timing, battery charging/discharging cycles, and efficiency losses across all seasons, use the full Photonik design tool.

Panel Placement Tool New Zealand

This is a simple panel placement tool that lets you quickly estimate panel count for a single roof area. Try Photonik for advanced features:

  • Multiple panel groups
  • Custom roof angles
  • Panel orientation
  • Shade loss calculations
  • Panel selection (1000+ models)
  • Full integration with our design tool

Loading panel placement tool...

Solar & Battery System Cost New Zealand

Understanding Solar & Battery System Costs

A 9.9 kW solar system in New Zealand is priced at approximately $14,577, whilst adding 10 kWh of battery storage increases the total investment to around $25,036. With a 7.3-year payback and a 25-year panel lifespan, a solar system in New Zealand can deliver many years of essentially free electricity after paying for itself.

Try adjusting the system size and battery sliders above to see how different configurations affect both upfront cost and long-term savings for your New Zealand home.