Solar hot water in New Zealand

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Solar thermal potential of New Zealand New-Zealand DNI mid-size-map 156x220mm-300dpi v20191206.png
Solar thermal potential of New Zealand

Solar thermal technologies had a sizable initial uptake in the pioneering days of the 1970s. By 2001 more than 40GWhr was produced from solar hot water technologies, equating to 0.1% of the total electricity consumption in New Zealand. [1] In 2006 the government announced an investment of $15.5 million over the first three and a half years of a five-year Solar water heating program to increase the number of solar hot water heating installations. As of 2006 there were about 35,000 solar hot water installations on domestic and commercial buildings. [2] As of 2025 there are no subsidies from the government.

Contents

Barriers to adoption

The main barrier for the installation of solar hot water systems is the initial capital investment. Other barriers are the conservatism of the building industry, lack of influence on increasing the sale price of houses, conflicting interest between housing investors and home-owners, lack of adequate information about solar hot water heating and the cost of consent which is not needed for solar-PV [3] . In the 2010's and 2020's the competition from other green energy solutions as heat pumps and solar-PV technology increased which dropped more in cost-effectiveness in the last decade.

Cost-effectiveness

Solar thermal systems can supply 60-70% of hot water needs during sunny months. With basic servicing and maintenance, solar hardware can last upwards of 20 years and requires minimal hands-on maintenance, aside from keeping the solar panels dust-free.

The initial investment is higher, with costs starting around $6,000 for a system suitable for a 3-4 person household. Solar collectors are less efficient during wet, wintry, and cloudy days, necessitating a boost system to cover hot water needs. Proper panel positioning is crucial, as panels must be north-facing and angled correctly to maximize sun exposure. [4]

Statistics

Data on the quantity of solar thermal energy utilised is not collected by the MBIE. [5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (May 2001). "Solar energy use and potential in New Zealand". Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority.
  2. ↑ Ministry for the Environment (December 2007). Environment New Zealand 2007 (PDF). ME847. Wellington, New Zealand. p. 111. ISBN   978-0-478-30191-5.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  3. ↑ "Do You Need Council Consent for Solar Panels in New Zealand? Let's Clear the Air!" . Retrieved 3 February 2025.
  4. ↑ "Getting Hot Water Right: An Expert Guide to Heat Pumps and Solar in NZ" . Retrieved 3 February 2025.
  5. ↑ "Energy in New Zealand 2020" (PDF). August 2020.


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