New Zealand solar capacity rose 52% in 2025

A solar park reaches New Zealand’s national transmission grid, and the country’s solar fleet ends 2025 at 830 MW. That is the shape of a rapid build-out: capacity rose 52% during the year, from 545 MW at its start, according to the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE).

The growth is coming mainly from large projects rather than only rooftop panels. Seven utility-scale solar plants of 9 MW or larger were switched on in 2025, including the country’s first solar park connected directly to the national transmission grid. In 2026, the 150 MW Tauhei Solar Farm and 38 MW Omeheu Solar Farm had already joined the list of operating projects.

The next wave is visible in the Electricity Authority’s investment pipeline. More than 1.7 GW of committed new capacity is expected to come online over the next three years; solar represents 930 MW, while renewables make up 94% of the planned total and battery energy storage the remaining 6%. MBIE says further grid-connected solar plants are under construction or in planning.

The change matters because solar is taking a larger place in an already renewable-heavy electricity system. Renewable generation capacity surpassed 9 GW in 2025, with solar accounting for 9.1%, up from 1.9% in 2020. Overall, 88.5% of New Zealand’s electricity came from renewable sources in 2025, compared with 85.5% the year before.

So, concretely, the project pipeline shows where new supply is expected to come from: mostly renewable generation, with batteries alongside it. The government is also backing plans to legalize plug-in solar for households, while seeking simpler rules for small and medium-sized systems. MBIE’s assessment that cumulative solar capacity now likely exceeds 1 GW remains an estimate.