Solar power on-farm

Dairy farms use large amounts of electricity for milking, cooling, irrigation, effluent systems, water pumping and other daily activities.

Solar and battery energy storage systems can help by:

• Reducing energy bills: generating power directly on farm, especially during high-use daytime periods.
• Improving energy security: providing greater resilience during outages when paired with batteries.
• Lowering emissions: enabling farms to incorporate more renewable energy into their system.
• Improving long-term certainty: helping farms manage volatility in electricity prices and supply.

Solar doesn’t suit every farm, so understanding your energy use and goals is your first step.

DairyNZ is collaborating with EECA on their Solar on farms initiative. This will include case studies of solar and battery systems on dairy farms, documenting the farmers' experience and insights on costs, design decisions, and system performance over time. We will link to each example here as they become available.

Is solar right for your dairy farm?

Every farm is different, and solar works best when the system is sized and designed around your actual energy demand profile. EECA provides a practical checklist to help you assess suitability, including roof space, shed orientation, daily load profile, and grid connection.

Find out more on the EECA website.

Building resilience into your farm system

Many farmers are now pairing solar with battery storage to:

• Store excess daytime generation for evening or early morning use.
• Maintain operations during outages.
• Improve overall energy independence This combination can increase upfront cost but offers stronger resilience and long-term payback for some farms.

Costs and savings

The economics of solar vary depending on your energy use, local grid constraints, and system design. EECA provides guidance to help estimate:

• Typical system costs
• Expected payback periods
• Factors influencing returns (e.g., buy-back rates, battery sizing)

Find out more about breaking down solar costs and savings

The right system

Choosing a solar provider is an important decision. Energy system quality, warranties, and system design vary widely. These resources outline the key questions to ask, what to expect in a quote, and advice for comparing suppliers:

• Solar Decision Guides
• Solar Provider Checklist