Does New Zealand get enough sunlight to make solar farms feasible?
New Zealand has a good amount of sunshine throughout the year, and solar power is becoming increasingly popular as a renewable energy source in Aotearoa.
While the amount of sunlight may vary depending on the location, time of day, and season, solar panels are still able to generate a significant amount of energy even on cloudy days.
Solar is widespread throughout Europe, with many countries experiencing less sun than New Zealand. For example Germany has an average solar generation potential of 1088 kWh/m2 (much lower than New Zealand). Until a few years ago, Germany was the world’s leading country for solar installed capacity. Today, Germany has over 60 GW of solar capacity installed.
