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EV Quest is the electric vehicle podcast for New Zealand, Australia and beyond. Hosted by Adrian Maidment in New Zealand, and joined regularly by Riz Akhtar from Carloop, EV Quest delivers the latest EV news, reviews and industry insights from across New Zealand, Australia and the global EV market.
Each week you’ll hear conversations about electric cars, charging infrastructure, EV ownership and the future of sustainable mobility.
From interviews with EV industry leaders to reviews of the newest electric vehicles, EV Quest keeps you connected to the fast-changing world of electric transport.
EV Quest Podcast – Solar Power for the Home
Speakers:
Adrian Maidment (AM) – Host
Andre Kavanagh (AK) – Harrison Solar (Coromandel & Bay of Plenty)
AM (00:11)
Kia ora and welcome to the EV Quest Podcast, I’m Adrian Maidment.
Today’s episode is about an industry growing in New Zealand: solar power for the home. If you’ve ever wondered whether solar is worth it, how much it costs, or how it works with an EV, then this episode is for you.
To talk solar, I’m joined by Andre Kavanagh from Harrison Solar, covering the Coromandel and Bay of Plenty region. Hi Andre!
AK
Hi, how are you?
AM
My first question—let’s go big: why solar?
AK
Yeah, why solar? There are a couple of reasons. Most people’s number one goal is to reduce their power bill. Some choose solar for environmental reasons, and the last reason is grid resilience—having power during outages or an unstable grid.
AM
For someone new to solar, how would you describe how the system works?
AK
The system generates electricity you can use. Sunlight hits the panels, creating DC electricity. That’s converted into AC power by an inverter. You use the power first; you can store excess in a battery, and anything you don’t use is sold back to your power company for a credit.
AM
There are different inverter sizes—how does that all work?
AK
The inverter size determines the size of the system. When we size a system, we look at your power bill, your usage, and whether it’ll grow. Inverters come in different capacities, from small single-phase units to large three-phase systems up to 25 kW. We size the inverter based on how much power we want the system to generate over a year.
AM
And that affects feeding power back into the grid too?
AK
The panels make the power, the inverter converts it. You use the power first; excess gets exported. Some areas had export limits, but recent government regulations have improved that. Many regions can now export almost double what was previously allowed.
AM
Do most people go for a battery?
AK
In the last couple of years there's been a shift—about 60% of customers now choose a battery. Pricing and technology have hit a sweet spot, making it financially sensible depending on what you want the system to do.
AM
Do batteries go inside or outside?
AK
Either. Usually in a garage. There are strict rules around placement—materials, room types, window distances—so a site visit is important. Batteries can be installed outside too; everything is outdoor-rated, but we try to keep equipment out of direct sun.
AM
And you’ve got Tesla models?
AK
Yes, the Tesla Powerwall 3 is our main large battery. We also supply Give Energy, with single-phase hybrid systems (9.5 kWh) and larger stackable three-phase options. At Harrison’s we test products ourselves before adopting them, so we know they suit the NZ market.
AM
Prices seem cheaper now than in the past.
AK
Yes, panel output has increased while panel prices have dropped. Coupled with rising power prices, solar is now a no-brainer. Systems always pay for themselves.
AM
Is there a general price range?
AK
We describe systems as small, medium, and large:
- Small (3–4 kW / 8–12 panels): $8,000–$12,000
- Medium (5–6 kW / 13–18 panels): $13,000–$16,000
- Large (8–10 kW / up to 30 panels): $17,000–$25,000
Battery Systems:
- Small hybrid (5 kW inverter + 9.5 kWh battery + ~16 panels): $20,000–$25,000
- Tesla Powerwall + ~16–40 panels: $28,000–$35,000
Install cost varies depending on roof type (tiles, flat, steel), panel layout, and equipment location.
AM
How long to get my money back?
AK
For solar-only systems, around 6–7 years. Most customers see a 10–15% return annually.
AM
Any common misconceptions?
AK
Yes—people think they’ll get a zero bill. Without a battery you won’t, and even with a battery I’m reluctant to promise it. Be cautious of anyone claiming a system pays for itself in three years—get a second opinion.
AM
What about house suitability? I’m in the sunny Bay so I presume I’m okay.
AK
Very few homes can’t have solar. North-facing panels are best, but east–west works too. We can use multiple roof aspects. Mainly you just need space for the panels and equipment.
AM
What questions do people usually ask?
AK
People want to know if it will pay for itself. The battery financials used to be harder, but now batteries are often the go-to.
AM
And if the sun’s not shining?
AK
Panels work in light, not heat. They generate from early morning to early evening. Even on cloudy or rainy days, you still get production—just less. Quality inverters like Fronius keep producing even at low voltages.
AM
What are the warranties like?
AK
Panels: 25-year product warranty, often 30-year performance warranty.
Inverters: usually 10 years, with good ones lasting 15–20 years. Fan-cooled inverters last longer—electronics hate heat.
AM
How did you get into the solar business?
AK
I built a home in Cambridge in a subdivision where solar was mandatory, but I never spoke to the installer and ended up with a small system that didn’t fit our needs. I analysed the monthly data and got interested. A friend worked at Harrison’s, I helped with payback calculations, and eventually joined. Before solar, I was a police officer.
AM
You also own an EV—how does that work with solar?
AK
I drive about 1,000 km a week, so charging is huge. I have a 10 kW system, 8 kW Fronius inverter, and Tesla Powerwall 2. My provider gives me three hours of free power nightly, so I charge between 9pm–midnight and get about 150 km of range. Including RUCs, I still save $500–$600 a month on fuel. Annual household usage is 28,000–30,000 kWh, but our biggest winter bill is only about $300; summer is around $50.
Tesla’s “charge on solar” feature lets my EV charge only from excess solar during weekends.
AM
Where do you see New Zealand in five years? We’re behind Australia, right?
AK
Australia has nearly 40% rooftop solar. NZ is at 3–4%, so there’s massive growth ahead—residential and commercial. Panels will keep improving, inverters are as good as they’re going to get, batteries will get cheaper, and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) will become more viable.
AM
How does V2G work with solar?
AK
It needs a special charger that can act as an inverter, pulling DC from the car and converting to AC. It’s expensive now, but as more EVs and chargers support it, costs will drop.
AM
And the green loans—are they popular?
AK
Very. Even people with cash prefer low-interest loans for cashflow. Most banks offer 1% for three years; Westpac offers five years interest-free. Providers must be SEANZ members and meet a few bank requirements.
AM
If someone’s in the Coromandel or Bay of Plenty, how do they contact you?
AK
You can reach us via the Harrison’s website, or call 0800 00 33 55. There’s also an online booking system.
AM
One final insight for people considering solar—what should they know?
AK
Cheapest isn’t best. We use high-quality gear and can explain why our systems may cost a bit more. Always get multiple quotes and opinions. But most importantly—make the call. Solar will save you money; it pays for itself. It’s a no-brainer now.
AM
Saving money in New Zealand isn’t easy—this is one way to do it.
AK
Exactly. It’s tax-free savings, really. If a term deposit gives 4% (before tax), but solar returns 10–15% tax-free off your power bill, it’s very attractive.
AM
Andre, thanks for your time.
AK
Awesome mate, thank you.