WELLINGTON, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand's solar generation rose 66 percent in 2025 to a record high, with several large utility-scale solar farms coming online, a government report said on Thursday.
Geothermal generation also reached a record high last year, while solar generation is expected to continue increasing as many grid-connected solar plants are currently under construction or in planning, according to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's 2026 Energy in New Zealand report.
The country's share of energy supply from renewable sources hit a record 47.7 percent in 2025, despite total energy supply declining mainly due to reduced coal and gas production, the report said.
Renewable sources accounted for 88.5 percent of electricity generation last year, while renewable energy consumption increased to a record 32 percent of total energy consumption, it said.
Coal consumption fell to a record low in 2025, and natural gas consumption dropped to 2008 levels, according to the annual report, which provides an overview of New Zealand's energy production and consumption over the previous 12 months. ■