Solar options for home in 2022

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Solar options for home in 2022 - 2026

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#3477665 3-Apr-2026 17:13

kangaroo13:

Nice. Did you do the sums for tilting them to collect more winter sun?

It would have significantly reduced the number of panels on the roof. My philosophy has been to look at the return on an annualised basis rather than optimising for one season. As its configured it will be great over summer, not so good over winter. The chimney will be going as the woodburner underneath it is not used in the workshop below it; the tree (Australian Wattle) will be getting even more severely trimmed but kept for the Tui's.

CokemonZ

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#3477715 3-Apr-2026 18:04

Stu1:

In Wellington ended up with solar man , Harrison’s said no issues as well and were happy to install. Rheem also were happy. They were installed about a year ago .We may have issues replacing the roof at some point. We had it all rechipped and sprayed by kōwhai roofing.

When being installed with rails

Huh, So looking back, last time I tried to get a quote was late 2020. Harrisons was one of them.

Yours looks good.

I'll be getting in touch with harrisons and rheem. Solarman seems to be Wellington only.

And someone else - anyone have any north shore Auckland recommendations for a metal tile (decromastic) roof?

Stu1

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#3477761 3-Apr-2026 20:46

They have been amazing investment so far , well worth it. Good luck

Jase2985

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#3478296 5-Apr-2026 15:44

Vector increasing the export limit under certain criteria

https://www.vector.co.nz/personal/electricity/distributed-generation?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAYnJpZBExTlFSejBEUGxzYnBZRVRiMHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR57_h2deeYOhiHvQkCUHomPir73LT16c6ZdB0Zzrv4tCNdogTBLi6M-HOpZkw_aem_LN1fZTAi8oy2oI9Y-T-7_w

lxsw20

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#3478300 5-Apr-2026 16:10

We've signed up to have 19x Suntech 450W panels, 8KW Sigenergy Inverter and 2x 9kw batteries. Was originally looking at Tesla, but I like how the sig is modular and integrates with Shellys I already have around the house. Install should be June. Dunedin based, so be interesting to see what it can do it the depths of winter.

I guess we'll see how it goes but initial thoughts are we go on the contact free nights plan, get the solar to charge the battery during the day, use it in the evening then the battery is recharged between 9 and midnight, rinse and repeat.

gajan

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#3478303 5-Apr-2026 16:29

Jase2985:

Vector increasing the export limit under certain criteria

https://www.vector.co.nz/personal/electricity/distributed-generation?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAYnJpZBExTlFSejBEUGxzYnBZRVRiMHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR57_h2deeYOhiHvQkCUHomPir73LT16c6ZdB0Zzrv4tCNdogTBLi6M-HOpZkw_aem_LN1fZTAi8oy2oI9Y-T-7_w

Broadly speaking - progress across the lines companies - https://www.ea.govt.nz/data-and-insights/charts-and-dashboards/shift-to-10kw-export-limits/

Just one outlier.

My comments and remarks are not necessarily of my employer.

dukezoid

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#3478308 5-Apr-2026 17:08

lxsw20:

We've signed up to have 19x Suntech 450W panels, 8KW Sigenergy Inverter and 2x 9kw batteries. Was originally looking at Tesla, but I like how the sig is modular and integrates with Shellys I already have around the house. Install should be June. Dunedin based, so be interesting to see what it can do it the depths of winter.

I guess we'll see how it goes but initial thoughts are we go on the contact free nights plan, get the solar to charge the battery during the day, use it in the evening then the battery is recharged between 9 and midnight, rinse and repeat.

Nice. You’ll like it. Massively recommend getting the 10 or 12 kW inverter. It’s not much more and you’ll appreciate if/when get/have an EV.

edit update: 19 450s gets you 8,550. Sig handles up to 200%. If you have roof area and can afford well worth doing so. Especially down south. 4 MPPTs on the 10 and 12

Benoire

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#3478309 5-Apr-2026 17:09

lxsw20:

We've signed up to have 19x Suntech 450W panels, 8KW Sigenergy Inverter and 2x 9kw batteries. Was originally looking at Tesla, but I like how the sig is modular and integrates with Shellys I already have around the house. Install should be June. Dunedin based, so be interesting to see what it can do it the depths of winter.

I guess we'll see how it goes but initial thoughts are we go on the contact free nights plan, get the solar to charge the battery during the day, use it in the evening then the battery is recharged between 9 and midnight, rinse and repeat.

How much was that - I'd imagine the batteries have added a decent chunk to the cost.

lxsw20

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#3478310 5-Apr-2026 17:18

About 33k, yeap batteries around 10k of that. TBH we're already over budget, so yes we could do a bigger system but im at peak of WAF with $.

johno1234

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#3478315 5-Apr-2026 18:03

I keep hearing that batteries are still a bit too expensive to be an economic payback. However there’s only me WFH during the day while solar generates but all the other hangers on in the household are burning up the KWh first thing in the morning or when they get home in the evening.
Unless I store it in a battery or sell it to the power company at a loss compared to the buy price I’m not sure it works for me?

One interesting option is a re purposed 60KWh EV battery for about $9k and run off that over the dark hours and perhaps even charge it up over discounted nights?

Am I missing something?

kangaroo13

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#3478317 5-Apr-2026 18:15

johno1234:

I keep hearing that batteries are still a bit too expensive to be an economic payback. However there’s only me WFH during the day while solar generates but all the other hangers on in the household are burning up the KWh first thing in the morning or when they get home in the evening.
Unless I store it in a battery or sell it to the power company at a loss compared to the buy price I’m not sure it works for me?

One interesting option is a re purposed 60KWh EV battery for about $9k and run off that over the dark hours and perhaps even charge it up over discounted nights?

Am I missing something?

for the moment the feed in tariff in nz is quite good. loss between the FiT and off peak grid power is only about 6c for us. You need to buy/sell a lot of power to cover the cost of a battery. you can rationalise by thinking of the grid as your battery

I think b4 investing big in battery look to smart control on large loads, particularly hot water. Diverter (e.g. Sunstash) or if your system is large enough, smart relay (e.g. Catch, or roll your own Home Assistant).

if you can alignmost usage with solar collection, the amount of peak electricity required from the grid may be relatively small, and cost can likely be covered by sale of excess solar at other times.

johno1234

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#3478319 5-Apr-2026 18:26

Thanks. I think this would be a typical day: We inherited a gas califont type hot water system which is our only gas usage and the fixed charge is a killer. Should replace with a heat pump but even with a really big discount I’m struggling to make it pay

Konev

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#3478330 5-Apr-2026 19:58

kangaroo13:

johno1234:

I keep hearing that batteries are still a bit too expensive to be an economic payback. However there’s only me WFH during the day while solar generates but all the other hangers on in the household are burning up the KWh first thing in the morning or when they get home in the evening.
Unless I store it in a battery or sell it to the power company at a loss compared to the buy price I’m not sure it works for me?

One interesting option is a re purposed 60KWh EV battery for about $9k and run off that over the dark hours and perhaps even charge it up over discounted nights?

Am I missing something?

for the moment the feed in tariff in nz is quite good. loss between the FiT and off peak grid power is only about 6c for us. You need to buy/sell a lot of power to cover the cost of a battery. you can rationalise by thinking of the grid as your battery

I think b4 investing big in battery look to smart control on large loads, particularly hot water. Diverter (e.g. Sunstash) or if your system is large enough, smart relay (e.g. Catch, or roll your own Home Assistant).

if you can alignmost usage with solar collection, the amount of peak electricity required from the grid may be relatively small, and cost can likely be covered by sale of excess solar at other times.

Yes batteries are low on payback and close to break even (last i looked) but in the event of a natural disaster or event they suddenly become invaluable. That factor is the main driver for myself wanting one and should be for everyone in NZ, when the alpine fault goes im betting the best case scenario will be rolling blackouts country wide till power stations are cleared and grids repaired. The windstorm in Southland last year provides another case for them.

Ewein

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#3479069 8-Apr-2026 11:02

Decision to move to 10kw default export limit.

https://www.ea.govt.nz/news/press-release/new-rules-encourage-more-solar-to-networks/

Although they also allow for flexible/dynamic export limits as an alternative - which is what Vector proposed.
Problem is that many existing installations have an inverter not capable of CSIP.
But, to me, the decision reads that it is up to the customer to choose between the flexible limit or the 10kw static limit.

Authority decision
5.29 The Authority has decided to amend the Code for Part 1A DG applications to set a default
static export limit of 10kW, unless:
(a) the distributor offers a dynamic or flexible export limit set using the ELAM that the
applicant may choose to alternatively adopt, that allows exports at the maximum
determined limit, or lower limits, subject to network conditions
(b) the distributor sets a static export limit lower than 10kW for individual ICPs or small
groups of ICPs connected to the same section of low voltage line, providing a network
assessment using the ELAM justifies a lower limit due to network conditions.

So, interesting what Vector will do....
They might try to use b) to justify a lower limit (aka 5kw) due to their network conditions and just tell
you if you want 10kw, take the flexible option.

Regarding timing: The EA expects the changes to be gazetted by mid-May, with the changes coming into effect 28 days later. This roughly aligns with Vectors 1 July for the flexible limits.

maoriboy

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#3479078 8-Apr-2026 11:48

Hey team, I've been quoted the following and was wonder what your thoughts are on it. Good or bad deal? What would you change?

18 Solar Panels
• 18x Canadian Solar Panels 465W each total of 8370w capacity;
• 1x 8kw Sigen single phase hybrid inverter with Wi-Fi Module and phone app;
• Circuit breakers to suit;
• DC Isolating switches;
• Sigen control equipment; and
• All of the wiring and installation.
Note this does not include battery; however, the system is battery ready if needed.
Quoted price $19,398

Sigen batteries is as below. If you choose to fit at the time of installation there
will be no additional charge for fitting.
1x 10kw battery $6,969
1x 5kw battery $6,565

EV charger, we estimate the cost at $2,000

It ticks most of our boxes but they didn't quote on converting the gas HWC to electric, nor the gas ducted heating system (wanting to get rid of gas completely).

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