SoSolar-electric hot water, made simple
Sol•Flare turns your hot water cylinder into a solar battery, giving you reliable hot water and big savings every day.
Sol•Flare:
- Uses 4–6 roof-mounted solar panels
- Connects directly to your existing hot water cylinderRequires no plumbing changes
- Uses solar first, with only occasional mains top-ups when needed
- Ensures hot water 365 days a year
A smart system that’s simple, efficient, and designed for New Zealand homes.
How the OneEnergy Sol•Flare system works
Solar panels generate power across the entire day
Share your details and our team will be in touch to help you take the first step toward smarter energy.
Power feeds directly into your hot water cylinder element
We'll let you know how your panels will look and what estimated hot-water energy savings to expect.
Sol•Flare intelligently heats your water
Installation takes just three to four hours, delivering a reliable solar-electric hot water system and instant energy savings.
Your cylinder acts as a giant thermal battery
Enjoy lower energy bills, smaller carbon footprint, and reliable hot water all year round - even on rainy days.
You always have hot water
If several cloudy days prevent the tank from reaching temperature, Sol•Flare will use a small amount of mains energy to finish heating — but this is rare. On typical days, your hot water is powered entirely by the sun. Optional low-tariff overnight top-up is available for high-use homes.
How Hot Water Cylinders Work
Hot water cylinders rely on a simple 3,000W electric element — comparable to powering hundreds of LED lights at once.
Here’s what it does:
- Every time someone showers, cold water tops up the tank and the element switches on.
- It will run for 3–5 hours a day to keep the tank hot.
- It’s usually the biggest power-hungry appliance in your house.
- And the tech hasn’t changed: today’s elements work exactly the same as they did in the 1950s.
Why this matters:
A hot water cylinder doesn’t adjust to weather, sunlight, or energy availability. Its 3,000W element switches on whenever needed, often consuming 30–50% of a home’s daily electricity use.
How Sol•Flare changes that
Sol•Flare upgrades your existing hot water cylinder so it can use solar power efficiently , something standard elements can’t do on their own.
Uses the amount of solar available
From first light to late afternoon, Sol•Flare draws on all available solar power, whether that’s 50W or 2,700W, to steadily heat your cylinder.
No inverter required
Solar energy flows straight from the panels to the element, with no conversion losses.
More of your solar becomes hot water.
Maximises solar all day long
Fluctuating or cloudy conditions aren’t wasted. Sol•Flare constantly adjusts, feeding every usable watt into your cylinder.
Reliable hot water, every day
If several low-sun days mean your cylinder hasn’t reached temperature by late afternoon, Sol•Flare adds a small mains top-up so you’re always covered. On most days, your hot water is fully solar-powered.
Benefits of Sol•Flare
Best Practice:
How Households Overseas Do It
In mature solar markets, homeowners follow a simple two-part model:
Maximise self-consumption of solar by using a dedicated solar hot water controller (your cylinder becomes a low-cost solar battery)
Add a grid-tied solar system for the rest of the home
This approach reduces the need for extra hardware, boosts household efficiency, and future-proofs your home as buy-back rates decline and export limits tighten.
OneEnergy follows this internationally proven model.
Get your free, no obligation quote now
Get your tailored proposal showing exactly how your solar-electric system will look on your home, including panel placement and estimated hot-water energy savings.
