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For Jack Tame, the question of going solar is not if, but when. As he said on his Newstalk ZB show after confronting a big electricity bill, "there are only so many gains to be won from policing light switches and shower times. I’m seriously wondering about solar ... The huge surge in solar is being driven by economics. Put simply, solar power is way, way, way cheaper than other forms of electricity generation. Between batteries and solar panels, the technology is only getting better and only getting cheaper."
It pays to remember that using grid electricity is cheaper than using fossil fuels and using solar is the cheapest form of delivered electricity New Zealanders can get. If you can also run your EV on the sun, that will significantly increase the savings.
Demand for solar was already growing here, albeit from a low-base, and recent changes from the Government and the Electricity Authority are postive signals for New Zealanders to invest.
We're also working hard on a scheme that would help overcome the higher upfront costs of electric machines and solar by offering low-interest, long-term electrification loans that are tied to a property and we're confident that will increase uptake.
New South Wales gets the memo about the importance of finance and announces scheme offering zero interest loans to households to upgrade to electric stuff; plug-in solar gets the tick of approval to go on sale in the UK soon and the New York Times says it could 'change America'; EVolocity takes electrification to the streets to gets the kids inspired (and eventually employed); a tour of the amazing recycling business Redwood Materials; Think Solar and BYD give it away now; and a skit that cuts close to the bone for many solar dads.
Read moreDownloadAdvances in technology and falling costs mean customer-owned solar and batteries can play a critical role in New Zealand’s energy infrastructure - improving affordability, resilience and sustainability. Multiple trading relationships (MTR) and peer-to-peer trading would enable this potential by increasing competition, customer choice, and innovation in the electricity market, unlocking greater consumer benefits from customer solar and batteries.
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