Solar in Napier, Hastings and Hawke's Bay: Complete Guide for 2026
Unison's 10kW export limit, 28.6c/kWh power rates, and 7.0 to 7.6 year typical payback. Among NZ's strongest solar economics, from central Napier to the Hastings plains.
Hawke's Bay solar: key takeaways
- Hawke's Bay pays about 28.6c per kWh for grid power, among the highest in New Zealand, which pushes typical payback down to about 7.0 to 7.6 years.
- A typical 6.6kW Hawke's Bay system generates around 9,430 kWh a year from 2,100 sunshine hours and saves roughly $1,830 to $1,970.
- Unison allows a default residential export of up to 10kW, up from the old 5kW cap, and may briefly curtail exports to manage the network.
- A 6.6kW system in Napier or Hastings typically costs $13,500 to $15,000 installed, with coastal homes paying a small premium for marine-grade mounting.
- Using a unit yourself avoids the full 28.6c retail rate, well above what exported power earns, so midday appliance timing matters more than maximising export.
Is solar worth it in Hawke's Bay?
Hawke's Bay is one of the warmest and sunniest North Island regions, with 2,100+ annual sunshine hours and an average daytime rate of 28.6c/kWh. Strong solar yield means typical 6.6kW system payback in Hawke's Bay sits around 7.0 to 7.6 years, around the middle of the regions we cover. Unison (Napier, Hastings, Hawke's Bay) is the dominant network, and it now allows a default residential export of up to 10kW, up from its old 5kW cap, after the Electricity Authority required distributors to offer a 10kW default from 11 May 2026. The region's mix of urban, rural, and vineyard properties provides exceptional roof space for residential solar, and at 28.6c/kWh every kWh you use yourself is worth well over what exporting it would earn. Whether you're in central Napier, the Hastings plains, Havelock North, or further into the wine country, this guide covers Hawke's Bay solar production data, Unison's pre-approval process, and Solar Scout-vetted installers operating across the region.
The local detail in Hawke's Bay is roof space. Vineyard, orchard and lifestyle properties around Hastings, Havelock North and the plains tend to have both bigger roofs and bigger daytime loads, which is exactly the combination that suits a larger array under Unison's 10kW default export. On a standard suburban Napier home, a 6.6kW system making 9,430 kWh a year is usually the right starting point, and the 28.6c retail rate means self-consumption does most of the work. For a clear look at how payback is actually calculated, our full NZ payback breakdown walks through every assumption behind the numbers.
Want a personalised estimate for your Hawke's Bay home? Answer a few quick questions and compare quotes from up to 3 Solar Scout-vetted installers.
How much solar will you generate in Hawke's Bay?
With 4.3 peak sun hours per day and a production factor of 1.08relative to the national baseline, here's what a typical roof-mounted system generates in Hawke's Bay per year.
Assumes you use 40 to 50% of what you generate and export the rest at 13c/kWh. The daily fixed charge on your bill does not go away with solar, so it is not counted as a saving. The daytime rate used here is 28.6c/kWh. Your actual savings depend on roof orientation, shading, and your daily usage pattern.
For the national picture, see how Hawke's Bay stacks up against the rest of the country on annual generation per kW installed.
Electricity and buy-back rates
The daytime variable rate in Hawke's Bay averages 28.6c per kWh across the retail plans available on the local network. Every kilowatt-hour you self-consume from your panels saves you that variable rate. It does not remove the daily fixed charge, which you keep paying whatever your panels produce, so we never count it as a saving. Excess generation flows back to the grid, and your retailer pays you a buy-back rate. Retailers set those rates nationally rather than by region, so the figures below apply in Hawke's Bay the same as anywhere else. Each card shows the headline rate and the rate you earn outside the peak windows, because for a household without a battery the second number is the one that does most of the work.
Buy-back conditions
Contact Energy
Contact publishes the Good Charge peak window (7am to 9am and 6pm to 10pm weekdays, for battery-and-solar customers) but not the peak rate: it prices by address, so there is no national figure to print, and your export rate is set when you register your solar. Powerswitch's September 2026 table lists Contact's residential buy-back at 8c/kWh on selected residential plans, the lowest here. So the 25c peak quoted all over the internet is a national number for a retailer that does not have one.
Buy-back conditions
Ecotricity
ecoSOLAR pays 21c/kWh peak and 16c/kWh off-peak. The peak WINDOW is not published, and neither is the GST basis on Ecotricity's own page. Powerswitch also lists a flat-rate alternative at 18c/kWh for low users and 17c/kWh for standard users, which pays the same rate all day and can suit a household without a battery better than the peak plan. Confirmed against Powerswitch's September 2026 table.
Buy-back conditions
Electric Kiwi
Sources disagree and we will not pick one. Electric Kiwi's own solar page advertises a 23c/kWh buy-back and quotes 11.5c/kWh off-peak (incl GST). Powerswitch's September 2026 table says MoveMaster pays 20c/kWh peak (weekdays 7 to 9am and 5 to 9pm) and 10c/kWh off-peak, and that the Everyday and GO250 plans pay 8c/kWh. Ask for the number in writing before you switch.
Buy-back conditions
Frank Energy
Flat 12.5c/kWh, and Frank's own FAQ says the credit is shown before GST. If you are not GST-registered you are not making a taxable supply, so 12.5c is what lands on the bill: the 15% is added only for GST-registered customers, via a buyer-created tax invoice. Systems up to 50kW, and you need an export-capable meter. Frank does not appear on Powerswitch's solar table, so this was confirmed on Frank's own FAQ (page updated 19 May 2026).
Buy-back conditions
Genesis Energy
Two shapes on the HomeGen plan. Time-varying pays 15c/kWh peak (7 to 9am and 5 to 9pm) and 12.5c/kWh off-peak (9am to 5pm and 9pm to 7am). Anytime pays a flat 12.5c/kWh with no window to chase, the same rate as its Frank brand. Genesis states its export rates exclude GST. Confirmed against Powerswitch's September 2026 table.
Buy-back conditions
Mercury
The Flex plan is seasonal AND time-of-use, so it has four rates, not two. Winter (1 May to 30 Sep): 20.38c/kWh peak and 15.75c/kWh off-peak. Summer (1 Oct to 30 Apr, the seven months a roof exports most): 10.44c/kWh peak and 9.17c/kWh off-peak. Peak is 7 to 11am and 5 to 9.30pm in both seasons. The ranges above span the year because no customer is ever paid a winter peak and a summer off-peak at the same time. Mercury's flat plan pays 11.1c/kWh instead. Rates exclude GST. A further 6.9c/kWh for two years is available if you install through one particular installer: that is an installer arrangement, not a plan rate, and it is deliberately not folded into the rate above. Confirmed against Powerswitch's September 2026 table.
Buy-back conditions
Meridian Energy
15c/kWh year-round on the open-term Freedom and Night Saver plans, lifting to 24c/kWh in the winter peak windows only (7 to 10am and 5 to 9pm, July to September). Exports bill at 15c and the extra 9c arrives as a separate credit; you need a communicating smart meter to get it. Other residential plans, including the EV plan, get a flat 12c. Meridian's page says rates do not include GST. Confirmed against Powerswitch's September 2026 table.
Buy-back conditions
Nova
A flat 10c/kWh all day, with no peak window to chase and no seasonal split. Sourced from Powerswitch's September 2026 table, which publishes rates excluding GST; Nova's own page does not state a basis.
Buy-back conditions
Octopus Energy
The Peaker plan (systems 20kW or less) pays 23c/kWh peak and 10c/kWh off-peak, peak being 7 to 11am and 5 to 9pm on weekdays. Octopus says on its own page that you are unlikely to make the most of the peak rate without a battery. The standard Flexi plan (10kW or less) pays 19c peak and 14c off-peak, and Free Lunch pays 17c peak and 8c off-peak. ⚠ All of these are lower on the Northpower and Top Energy networks, so Northland is not on the national numbers: Peaker is 21c/8c and Flexi 17c/12c there. Confirmed against Powerswitch's September 2026 table, which now agrees with Octopus's own page.
Buy-back conditions
Power Edge
⚠ Read the condition. Powerswitch's September 2026 table lists 17.39c/kWh with a 3-year contract, and 12.5c/kWh without one, so the headline rate costs you three years of switching freedom. Power Edge's own pages advertise different figures again (17c year-round and up to 27c in a winter peak on its homepage, 14.37c on its join page, and a 20c 'Power Shield' rate that is the same 17.39c with GST added). Ask which number applies to you, in writing, before you sign. Powerswitch publishes excluding GST.
Buy-back conditions
Powershop
13c/kWh for most of the year, lifting to 23c/kWh in the winter peak only: 7 to 11am and 5 to 9pm, Monday to Friday, during July, August and September. That is three months of weekday mornings and evenings, so a roof without a battery earns the 13c rate for the overwhelming majority of what it exports. Sourced from Powerswitch's September 2026 table, which publishes rates excluding GST.
Buy-back conditions
Pulse Energy
A flat 12c/kWh, but Powerswitch notes it varies depending on location, so confirm the figure for your address before you switch. Sourced from Powerswitch's September 2026 table, which publishes rates excluding GST.
Buy-back conditions
Toast Electric
A flat 12.5c/kWh all day, but Toast only serves four networks: Wellington Electricity, Electra, Powerco Wairarapa and Orion. If your address is outside those, this rate is not available to you at all. Sourced from Powerswitch's September 2026 table, which publishes rates excluding GST.
Self-consumption is the bigger saving: every kWh you use yourself is worth 2 to 3 times more than every kWh you export. For the full national retailer comparison, see our buy-back rates guide.
Unison export rules
Unison (Hawke's Bay including Napier and Hastings) allows a default residential export of up to 10kW, up from the old 5kW cap, after the Electricity Authority required distributors to offer a 10kW default from 11 May 2026. Most Hawke's Bay homes are still sized to maximise self-consumption rather than export, because the rate you avoid paying on power you use yourself is higher than the rate you earn selling it back. Vineyards and rural properties tend to size larger because of higher daytime loads.
For the full step-by-step from accepting a quote to switch-on, see our NZ solar installation process guide.
Typical system economics
Below is what a typical 6.6kW system looks like in Hawke's Bay from a financial perspective. Real numbers will vary with installer, brand, and roof complexity. For the full national pricing context, our NZ solar installed-cost guide shows what 6.6kW jobs typically include and how to spot a fair quote.
What you can expect in Hawke's Bay
System size
6.6kW
Installed cost
$13,800
Annual generation
9,430 kWh
Annual savings
$1,830-$1,970
Payback period
7.0-7.6 yrs
After this point, the power is yours.
Assumes you use 40 to 50% of what you generate and export the rest at 13c/kWh. The daily fixed charge on your bill does not go away with solar, so it is not counted as a saving. Estimates also use the regional production factor and the local daytime variable rate. Your actual savings will vary with your roof, usage pattern, and retailer.
Sunshine by month in Hawke's Bay
Solar generation tracks closely with sunshine hours. Here's how Hawke's Bay's monthly sunshine hours look across the year (NIWA data).
How Hawke's Bay compares month-to-month
How Hawke's Bay compares with nearby regions
Here's how Hawke's Bay's solar numbers stack up against its neighbouring regions, on annual sunshine, typical output from a 6.6kW system, local power price, and payback period.
Choosing a solar installer in Napier, Hastings and Hawke's Bay
Napier, Hastings and Havelock North have a healthy mix of local installers and national companies, enough to collect three comparable quotes without stretching. Filter on SEANZ membership, EWRB-registered electricians, a written workmanship warranty of five years or more, and references from recent Hawke's Bay jobs.
The local check is Unison paperwork: your installer files the distributed generation application that unlocks the 10kW export limit, and one who works Unison's process weekly will give you a realistic switch-on date. On coastal Napier properties, ask what corrosion protection the mounting specification includes.
Our guide to choosing a solar power installer covers SEANZ membership, the questions to ask, and the red flags to avoid, wherever in the country you are.
Solar Scout-vetted solar installers serving Hawke's Bay
Every installer in the Solar Scout network is independently vetted. We connect you with up to 3 operating in your area so you can compare quotes on price and fit, never an open auction.
- EWRB registration: Licensed to do electrical work in New Zealand
- Positive customer experiences and real references: Read and checked before they can quote you
- SEANZ or Master Electricians: Backed by an industry body
- 5 years of solar: Solar-specific experience, not just general sparky work
Hawke's Bay solar FAQs
How much does solar cost in Napier or Hastings?
A 6.6kW system in Hawke's Bay typically costs $13,500 to $15,000 fully installed. Coastal Napier homes may need marine-grade mounting hardware, adding a small premium.
What is Unison's export limit?
Unison allows a default residential export of up to 10kW, up from its old 5kW cap, after the Electricity Authority required distributors to offer a 10kW default from 11 May 2026. Systems above the default are still assessed individually. Most Hawke's Bay family homes find 6.6 to 9kW systems work well, because the rate you avoid paying on power you use yourself is higher than the rate you earn selling it back, so sizing for self-consumption usually beats sizing for maximum export.
Best Hawke's Bay suburbs for solar?
Napier Hill, Havelock North, Taradale, and Hastings central all have strong roof stock with clear orientations. Vineyard properties typically have the most generous roofs and best north-facing aspects.
Best buy-back rate for Hawke's Bay homes?
There is no single best rate, and in Hawke's Bay it is the wrong question to lead with. Retailers set buy-back rates nationally rather than by region, so the published figures are the same here as anywhere else, and most now pay well for a few peak hours and much less across the rest of the day. What is genuinely local is the retail price: Hawke's Bay households pay around 28.6c per kWh, so every unit you use yourself is worth the full 28.6c while every exported unit earns a fraction of that. Shifting the dishwasher, laundry and hot water into the middle of the day is worth more than chasing a slightly better export rate. Our buy-back rates guide has the full comparison.
How long does install take in Napier?
Typical 4 to 6 weeks from quote to switch-on. Unison's DG approval is generally 2 to 3 weeks. Local installers operate primarily out of Napier and Hastings.
How much will a 6.6kW solar system generate in Hawke's Bay?
Around 9,430 kWh a year for a well-oriented, unshaded roof. Hawke's Bay averages 4.3 peak sun hours a day and over 2,100 hours of bright sunshine a year, among the sunniest in the North Island. Output is seasonal: the region averages roughly 245 hours of sunshine in January against about 110 in June, so summer carries most of the annual total. A north-facing plane with clear sky in front of it gets you closest to the 9,430 kWh figure. Shading from mature trees, common on Havelock North and Taradale sections, is the most likely reason a real roof lands below it.
How long until solar pays for itself in Hawke's Bay?
About 7.0 to 7.6 years for a typical 6.6kW system costing around $13,800 installed and saving roughly $1,830 to $1,970 a year. That is among the faster paybacks in the country, and the reason is the power price rather than the weather. At 28.6c per kWh, Hawke's Bay households pay well above the national middle, so every unit of solar you use yourself is worth more here than it would be further south. The sunshine helps too, at over 2,100 hours a year, but the rate is doing most of the work. Shifting hot water, pool pumps and laundry into the middle of the day shortens the payback further.
Is solar worth it in Hawke's Bay compared with other regions?
Yes, and it beats Auckland. A 6.6kW system here generates around 9,430 kWh a year against about 9,180 kWh for the same system in Auckland, and Hawke's Bay households pay 28.6c per kWh for grid power against Auckland's 26.4c. More generation plus a higher rate gives a typical payback of about 7.0 to 7.6 years, quicker than Auckland's 7.7 to 8.3. The honest caveat is that those are figures for a well-oriented, unshaded roof. A south-facing or heavily shaded roof lands well below them, which is why a site assessment on your actual roof matters more than any regional average.
Should I go bigger than 6.6kW in Hawke's Bay, say 10 or 12kW?
Often yes, if you have both the roof and the daytime load. Unison allows a default residential export of up to 10kW, up from the old 5kW cap, so a larger array no longer needs special approval to send surplus to the grid. Systems above the default are assessed individually. The real sizing question is self-consumption: a 6.6kW system makes around 9,430 kWh a year, and at 28.6c per kWh the power you use yourself is worth more than the power you sell back. Vineyards, orchards and lifestyle blocks with pumps and sheds running through the day are the clearest case for going larger.
Do I need building consent for solar in Napier or Hastings?
In most cases no. Since October 2025, most residential rooftop solar installs in New Zealand no longer need building consent, and a standard 6.6kW array on a Napier or Hastings home, around $13,800 installed, generally falls inside that exemption. Your installer still lodges the distributed generation application with Unison, which is generally 2 to 3 weeks, and arranges any meter change. The exemption covers the consent, not the engineering: an unusual roof structure, a very exposed site or a much larger array can still need sign-off. Ask your installer to confirm what applies to your specific roof before you sign anything.
Is solar different in Napier compared with Hastings?
Not in any way that changes the numbers. Napier and Hastings sit on the same Unison network with the same default residential export of up to 10kW, and both average 4.3 peak sun hours a day, so a well-oriented 6.6kW system makes around 9,430 kWh a year in either. The differences are physical. Coastal Napier homes, particularly on and around Napier Hill, should budget a small premium for marine-grade mounting hardware. Hastings, Havelock North and the plains tend to have larger sections and mature trees, so shading is the more common reason a real roof lands below the regional figure. Vineyard and orchard properties across the plains usually have both the roof space and the daytime load to justify going larger than 6.6kW.
How do I apply for solar approval with Unison?
Your installer lodges the distributed generation application with Unison, so you do not deal with the network directly. It needs your address and ICP number (printed on your power bill), the proposed system size and the inverter model, all of which your installer already holds. Approval is generally 2 to 3 weeks, and a typical Napier or Hastings install runs 4 to 6 weeks from quote to switch-on with 1 to 2 days of that on the roof. Because Unison allows a default residential export of up to 10kW, for most homes the application confirms the connection rather than deciding the system size; anything above the default is assessed individually. Your installer also arranges any meter change your retailer needs to make.
Who installs solar panels in Napier and Hastings?
Hawke's Bay is well served: local firms in Napier and Hastings compete with the national installers, so three comparable quotes are easy to collect. Shortlist on SEANZ membership, EWRB-registered electricians, and a written workmanship warranty of at least five years, then compare price per watt rather than the total. Your installer files the distributed generation application with Unison as part of the job, which is the approval behind the 10kW export limit, and coastal Napier homes should ask what corrosion-rated hardware the quote specifies.
Want to compare
quotes?
Get matched with vetted local installers and see real quotes for your home. It’s free, with no obligation.
Compare up to 3 quotesNearby regions
View all
Solar in Bay of Plenty
Powerco's generous 10kW export limit, 4.4 peak sun hours, and coastal homes at the Mount. What homeowners in Tauranga, Mount Maunganui and Papamoa need to know about going solar.
Read
Solar in Whakatane
One of NZ's sunniest towns: 4.6 peak sun hours, 2,300+ sunshine hours a year and 10kW export, for one of the fastest solar paybacks in the country.
Read
Solar in Wellington
Fewer hours of bright sun than Auckland, yet Wellington panels produce more. The yield data, Wellington Electricity's new 10kW export rule, and why the wind zone means getting your mounting right.
Read
Solar in Auckland
Vector's 10kW dynamic export limit, 26.4c/kWh power prices, and 4.2 peak sun hours. What Auckland homeowners need to know about going solar.
Read
Join the conversation
The best comments are honest ones: Real experience. Share yours, please stay civil and on topic. No self-promo links.
Your email is never shown or shared. To change or remove a comment later, .
No comments yet. What is your experience with this? Be the first to weigh in.