Consent-free solar panels proposed

The Government has announced plans to make it easier to install solar panels and proposed changes to power infrastructure to help increase the affordability of sustainable homes and boost the resilience of New Zealand’s electrical supply 

Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk has announced that building owners will now be able to install solar panels on existing structures without a building consent, while consents for new homes that include solar panels will be required to be processed within 10 working days – halved from the standard 20 working days. 

“We are proposing changes to the Building Act, that will make it clear that a building consent is not needed to install rooftop solar panels on existing buildings,” said Penk. 

“Right now, decision making is inconsistent between councils – creating unnecessary barriers for homeowners, who want to take responsibility for their environmental impact and make sustainable choices. 

“[For new builds, we are] proposing that Kiwis, who choose to include solar panels in the design of new homes, will have their entire building consent fast-tracked and processed in 10 working days instead of the standard 20 working days, saving Kiwis around $400 a day in time and consenting costs.” 

Expanded voltage range 

The Government is also expanding the permitted voltage range for electricity networks, so Kiwis with solar panels can send more power back to the grid. 

“New Zealand’s residential uptake of rooftop solar is lower than many other countries. This Government wants to change that, so more Kiwis can generate, store and send their electricity back to the market. This will allow them to save on their power bills and contribute to a more secure electricity system,” said Energy Minister Simon Watts. 

“Rooftop solar will play a crucial role in supporting energy security and reducing emissions. But our networks need to be able to better support the growing flow of electricity from consumers, while also dealing with growing demand for more electric vehicle charging. 

“That’s why we are expanding the voltage range from +/- 6% to +/- 10% to manage the changing flow of electricity from rooftop solar and EV charging. This will future-proof our electricity system and help electrify the economy.” 

Watts said expanding the voltage range could help avoid hundreds of millions of dollars in infrastructure upgrade costs to accommodate rooftop solar and EV charging being passed on to Kiwi households. 

“Combined, these […] changes will boost the resilience of New Zealand’s electricity supply, make it easier and cheaper for Kiwis to build sustainable homes, and spur New Zealand’s residential solar market into the future.” 

Watts added that modelling prepared by grid connection specialists ANSA suggests the changes could boost solar investment and generation by 507GWh through increased solar connections. 

Photo by Raze Solar on Unsplash