New Zealand Celsias

In about two hours (3.00pm), the switch will be flicked on New Zealand’s largest off-grid solar power system. Lucky ‘ole Motutapu Island is playing host to the system, which is expected to generate at least 65,000kWh per year. That’s enough to provide the island with up to 70 percent of its energy requirements and will save about 800 litres of diesel a week. DOC hopes the money saved on diesel—as well as the hours and money spent on maintaining the diesel generators—can now be focused on carrying out more conservation work.  

Coming in at $715,000, the solar instalment—provided by Power Technology Components Ltd, who won the tender for the project—is expected to bring in cost savings of about $188,000 per year, when compared with the current system. 

Power generated on the island supplies a number of DOC houses where staff and contractors live while carrying out conservation work. It also supplies the Motutapu Outdoor Education Camp (MOEC), which hosts 12,000 guests each year, and the Motutapu Farm. 

Motutapu is the ninth Department of Conservation-managed island to have renewable energy solutions installed as part of the Department of Conservation ongoing Sustainability Programme, which aims to boost renewable energy use and halve its off-grid diesel fuel bills. 

Another part of the Sustainability Programme is a project to install solar hot water systems at DOC recreational areas. Several solar hot water projects have already been completed. At MOEC, two systems of just under 1000 litres each were installed by Azzuro Solar Ltd between April and June this year. The MOEC Trust provided nearly 50 percent of the funding for the project.