The Panasonic battery will enable the system to be part of Transpower’s electricity demand response programme, when installed as part of SolarCity’s energy system.
SolarCity Chief Executive Andrew Booth, says Wellington has around 2050 sunshine hours a year (www.enz.org figures) and is perfect for solar power generation which he says will save electricity costs and provide a back-up in times of power failure.
“We have been in the solar power game for many years and this is our first foray into Wellington,” he says.
Booth says the decision to launch its solarZero+ service was driven by information from a Wellington City Council solar radiation roof mapping tool which shows suburbs and roofs where a solar power installation would provide benefits for owners and residents.
“Now in Wellington you can put your roof to work,” Booth says. “ You have an asset sitting idle and now it can save money and help the environment.
Pictured are Wellington City Mayor Celia Wade-Brown (left) and homeowner Philippa Weston at the installation of SolarCity's first residential solar battery system in New Zealand.
Mayor Wade-Brown, who connected the battery at the Khandallah house, welcomed the move by SolarCity and says solar power will help make the city more resilient in times of extreme events including earthquakes and storms.
“We are New Zealand’s smart energy capital and support a future of clean energy with reduced energy costs and lower greenhouse gas emissions,” she says.
Wellington has recently joined the the C40’s international ‘Compact of Mayors’ pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and 100 Resilient Cities.
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