Supercharging Solar: New Zealand’s 2025 Government Announcements Set the Stage for a Brighter, Greener Future
Major policy shifts and new initiatives are making solar energy more accessible for Kiwi households and farmers alike.
New Zealand’s solar landscape is undergoing a transformation. In June 2025, the Government unveiled a suite of bold new measures designed to accelerate the adoption of solar energy across the country—both on the nation’s farms and on Kiwi rooftops. Here’s what you need to know about these recent announcements and why they matter for the future of energy in Aotearoa.
Solar on Farms: Empowering the Rural Sector
Energy Minister Simon Watts introduced the “Solar on Farms” initiative, a comprehensive support package aimed squarely at the primary industries sector. The goal: help farmers cut energy costs, boost on-farm resilience, and give them greater control over their power use. This is particularly timely as rural and remote areas face rising and unpredictable energy prices, especially for energy-intensive operations like irrigation.
Key features of the Solar on Farms package include:
Independent, practical tools and advice tailored to different farm types
A dedicated help function to guide farmers through opportunities
Feasibility studies and technology demonstrations
Real-life energy data to show solar in action
Support for navigating consents and applications with local bodies and electricity distributors
A partnership with the Centre for Sustainable Finance to streamline access to funding
The initiative is led by EECA in collaboration with sector bodies and technical experts, ensuring solutions are practical and relevant. Notably, if just 30% of Kiwi farms install larger solar systems, they could generate up to 10% of New Zealand’s current electricity demand—a significant boost for national energy security.
Complementing this, the launch of Farmlands Flex—a turnkey solar, battery, and software solution—makes it even easier for farmers to generate, store, and manage their energy on-site. Coupled with ASB’s new 0% solar loan, these developments signal a major leap forward for rural energy resilience.
Residential Solar: Removing Barriers, Unlocking Potential
For homeowners, the Government has announced two major regulatory changes to supercharge rooftop solar adoption:
Expanding the permitted voltage range on electricity networks (from +/- 6% to +/- 10%), making it easier for homes to export solar power back to the grid and accommodate growing EV charging needs.
Streamlining the building consent process:
No building consent needed for rooftop solar on existing homes
Councils must process consents for new homes with solar panels within 10 working days (down from 20)
These changes are designed to future-proof the grid, avoid costly network upgrades, and remove red tape for homeowners eager to install solar. Modelling suggests these moves could boost solar investment and generation by 507 GWh, helping Kiwis make the most of clean, local energy.
Why These Changes Matter
With hydro lake levels under pressure and energy costs rising, these initiatives couldn’t come at a better time. Solar is uniquely positioned to perform well during dry years, and as more homes and farms generate their own electricity, the country’s energy system becomes more resilient, affordable, and sustainable.
As Mike Casey of Rewiring Aotearoa puts it:
“Solar is an energy source that is proven to perform better in dry years, ranks as the cheapest form of energy ever developed by humans and can help bring the cost of electricity down for everyone… The future is bright.”