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RNZ's money correspondent Susan Edmunds crunches the numbers and finds energy experts extolling rooftop solar's virtues, especially for those with EVs, big power users and those working from home.
Following on from the liquidation of SolarZero, RNZ money correspondent Susan Edmunds posed a question this morning: 'Is it worth getting a solar system?'
Answer: if you're looking for the cheapest electricity New Zealand households can get, then yes.
We regularly shout about solar from the rooftops, but we like it even more when others pick up our research and add to the volume. And, as Consumer's Paul Fuge summarised: "It's a real no brainer … now it just makes such financial sense to do it."
It makes even more sense for those who own electric vehicles because rooftop solar is the cheapest fuel on offer. And it is also the cheapest way to heat your water.
As she said: "It takes just five to eight years for a typical solar power system to pay for itself on a New Zealand home, experts say. But people who are high power users, or who work from home during the day could potentially benefit faster."
The cost of solar panels and batteries has fallen dramatically in recent years. But the playing field is still not level and that's why we are advocating for the rules to change so that customers are fairly rewarded for their exports, particularly at peak times.
Here's to running on the sun.
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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