Solar energy generation vs. capacity in New Zealand
New Zealand: Solar energy generation vs. capacity was 980.44 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
980.44 terawatt-hours
Change on year
up 63.2%
World rank
63rd
of 79 countries
All-time high
980.44 terawatt-hours
in 2025
All-time low
0 terawatt-hours
in 1965
Years of data
61
1965–2025
Solar energy generation vs. capacity in New Zealand, 1965–2025
Source: Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
In 2025, solar energy generation vs. capacity in New Zealand stood at 980.44 terawatt-hours. That is the highest value across all 61 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 63.2% on the previous year and up 2,562.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, solar energy generation vs. capacity in New Zealand peaked at 980.44 terawatt-hours in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0 terawatt-hours, in 1965.
New Zealand ranks 63rd of 79 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Solar energy generation vs. capacity in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | terawatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1966 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1967 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1968 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1969 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1970 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1971 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1972 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1973 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1974 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1975 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1976 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1977 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1978 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1979 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1980 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1981 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1982 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1983 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1984 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1985 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1986 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1987 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1988 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1989 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1990 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1991 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1992 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1993 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1994 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1995 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1996 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1997 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1998 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1999 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 2000 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 2001 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 2002 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 2003 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 2004 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 2005 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 2006 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 2007 | 3.41 terawatt-hours | — |
| 2008 | 3.46 terawatt-hours | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 3.59 terawatt-hours | +3.9% |
| 2010 | 3.83 terawatt-hours | +6.6% |
| 2011 | 4.13 terawatt-hours | +7.8% |
| 2012 | 4.82 terawatt-hours | +16.9% |
| 2013 | 6.7 terawatt-hours | +39.0% |
| 2014 | 18.8 terawatt-hours | +180.5% |
| 2015 | 36.83 terawatt-hours | +95.9% |
| 2016 | 56.75 terawatt-hours | +54.1% |
| 2017 | 77.09 terawatt-hours | +35.9% |
| 2018 | 100.66 terawatt-hours | +30.6% |
| 2019 | 127.9 terawatt-hours | +27.1% |
| 2020 | 161.12 terawatt-hours | +26.0% |
| 2021 | 210.47 terawatt-hours | +30.6% |
| 2022 | 285.59 terawatt-hours | +35.7% |
| 2023 | 374.85 terawatt-hours | +31.3% |
| 2024 | 600.64 terawatt-hours | +60.2% |
| 2025 | 980.44 terawatt-hours | +63.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 5 |
| 1970s | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1980s | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1990s | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.05 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 3.59 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 43.75 terawatt-hours | 3.83 terawatt-hours | 127.9 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 435.52 terawatt-hours | 161.12 terawatt-hours | 980.44 terawatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More energy & mining data for New Zealand
- Fuel imports 12.0% (2025)
- Ores and metals imports 2.1% (2025)
- Ores and metals exports 3.2% (2025)
- Gas production 35.27 terawatt-hours (2024)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 6,765 kilowatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 35.27 terawatt-hours (2024)
- Gas production per person 6,765 kilowatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Gas production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is solar energy generation vs. capacity in New Zealand?
- Solar energy generation vs. capacity in New Zealand was 980.44 terawatt-hours in 2025, according to Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest solar energy generation vs. capacity recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 980.44 terawatt-hours in 2025.
- What is the lowest solar energy generation vs. capacity recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 terawatt-hours in 1965.
- How does New Zealand rank for solar energy generation vs. capacity?
- New Zealand ranks 63rd out of 79 countries with data for 2025.
- Is solar energy generation vs. capacity rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2,562.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Solar energy generation vs. capacity. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 61 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Figures are based on gross generation and do not account for cross-border electricity supply.