New Zealand's solar capacity hits 830 MW by end of 2025, up 52% year-on-year

en.Wedoany.com Reported - A latest report released by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) of New Zealand shows that by the end of 2025, the country's installed solar capacity had reached 830 megawatts (MW), a 52% increase from 545 MW at the beginning of the year. The report, titled Energy in New Zealand 2026, attributes the growth primarily to the rapid development of the utility-scale solar market.

In 2025, seven utility-scale solar power plants with an installed capacity of 9 MW or above came into operation in New Zealand, including the country's first solar plant directly connected to the national transmission grid. As of the report's release, New Zealand's cumulative installed solar capacity may have already exceeded 1 gigawatt (GW). In 2026, more utility-scale plants have been connected to the grid, including the 150 MW Tauhei Solar Farm and the 38 MW Omeheu Solar Farm.

Looking at the overall renewable energy landscape, New Zealand's total installed renewable power generation capacity exceeded 9 GW in 2025, with hydropower and geothermal dominating. Solar accounted for 9.1% of total installed renewable capacity, compared to just 1.9% in 2020. In terms of energy supply structure, renewables' share of New Zealand's primary energy supply rose from 45.6% in 2024 to 47.7% in 2025, hitting a record high. That year, 88.5% of New Zealand's electricity came from renewable sources, up from 85.5% the previous year. Renewables' share of total energy consumption also rose to a record 32%, reflecting both increased renewable supply and a decline in industrial energy demand that relies primarily on non-renewable sources. Meanwhile, coal consumption fell to its lowest point on record, while natural gas consumption dropped to its lowest level since 2008.

Regarding future growth prospects, MBIE stated that solar power generation is expected to continue growing, with more grid-connected solar plants currently under construction or in the planning stage. According to the investment pipeline published by New Zealand's Electricity Authority, more than 1.7 GW of committed new capacity is expected to be connected to the grid over the next three years, with solar projects accounting for 930 MW. Renewable energy makes up 94% of the planned total installed capacity, with battery energy storage projects accounting for the remaining 6%.

Alongside the expansion of utility-scale plants, the New Zealand government is also promoting the adoption of small-scale solar installations. Earlier this week, the government backed plans to legalize plug-and-play solar devices for households, aiming to make the country's regulations on installing small and medium-sized solar systems among the most streamlined in advanced economies.