Solar in Northland: EECA, Funding, Finance, and Where to Begin

Know Your Options

New Zealand farmers are increasingly turning to solar and it’s not hard to see why. Rising power costs, long sunshine hours, and improving finance options are making on-farm solar one of the most practical investments available to dairy farmers, orchardists, growers, and mixed operations alike. The funding and finance options are better than most farmers realise.

EECA and Farm Solar

EECA (the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority) is the NZ government agency responsible for supporting the country’s energy transition. They have been actively working with the agricultural sector on solar, and EECA modelling shows that if 30% of New Zealand farms went solar, they could collectively generate around 10% of the country’s electricity demand.

Recently, EECA launched a demonstration programme offering farmers co-funding of up to 40% on inverters and batteries, and up to 20% on panels, capped at $200,000 per farm. Integrated Electrical and Solar were involved in this programme, providing quotes for several Northland farming clients who applied. Our customers weren’t selected as demonstration farms, but a number went ahead with their systems anyway, and the results have been genuinely positive.

That particular funding round has now closed, but EECA’s Solar on Farms programme is ongoing. New opportunities are likely to emerge, and farmers who have already done their homework will be best placed to act when they do.

Keep an eye on: https://www.eeca.govt.nz/co-funding-and-support/products/solar-on-farms/

EECA farmer helpline: 0800 300 643, neutral and independent advice on whether solar makes sense for your operation.

Finance Available Right Now

You don’t need to wait for a funding round. ASB currently offers up to $150,000 interest-free over 5 years specifically for farm solar. Other major banks including ANZ, Westpac, Kiwibank, and BNZ all have green loan products that can apply too. Terms vary, so talk to your bank or financial adviser and accountant.

For most farm systems that pay for themselves within 5 to 6 years, interest-free finance means you can be cashflow-neutral from day one.

A Few Things Worth Knowing Before You Get Quotes

• Irrigation is the best starting point – it’s a large load that runs during peak solar hours, so the match is near-perfect
• Batteries add resilience, not just savings – useful if outages are a real risk for your operation
• Size for where you’re heading, not just where you are now – electrification of vehicles and equipment is coming
• Existing shed roofs are ideal – they reduce installation costs significantly compared to ground mounts

Choosing the Right Installer

With solar growing fast, not all installers are equal. A few things worth considering when getting quotes:

Are they local? A local installer knows the region – the weather patterns, the lines companies, the site challenges. They’re also the ones who show up when you need them, not a 0800 number in another town.

Are they a SEANZ member? SEANZ (https://www.seanz.org.nz/) is the independent industry body for NZ solar and battery storage. Members are bound by a code of conduct and there’s a formal complaints process if things go wrong.

What’s their aftersales support like? A solar system is a long-term asset. Ask who looks after your system once it’s installed, and what happens if something isn’t performing as expected. A good installer stands behind their work well after the invoice is paid.

A New Standard Coming for NZ Solar

New Zealand is about to get its first formal quality certification for solar installers. Solassure, a new initiative through SEANZ, is set to launch in the coming months and will become the benchmark consumers can use to identify installers who have been independently assessed for quality, safety, and workmanship. It is also expected to become a requirement for bank-approved solar finance and government programmes going forward.

Integrated Electrical and Solar have completed the Solassure accreditation process ahead of the public launch. Once the certification goes live, we will be among the first installers in New Zealand carrying the mark.

Watch this space: https://www.solassure.nz

Ready to Explore Solar?

We’re happy to talk through what solar might look like for your operation, no pressure, no jargon. And if new EECA funding opens up, we’ll be across it.

Get in touch: https://integratedes.co.nz/contact/

Integrated Electrical and Solar are members of SEANZ (https://www.seanz.org.nz/) and proud installers for Tesla, Fronius, BYD and REC. We have completed the Solassure accreditation process and will be among the first certified installers in New Zealand when it launches. Based in Whangārei, servicing Northland.