New Zealand

This is a presentation of the research done by the Environmental Energy Solutions Ltd. for the development and testing of their prototype solar heat system. The particularities consisted in the large, low cost solar collector integrated into the roof or wall cladding system and its integrated water sourced heat pump and thermal storage system. A prototype was installed on a house in Wellington, providing year-round performance data. This report was done with the support of the New Zealand Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority.

Owing to the significant potential that the country is offering, New Zealand’s Solar Industry association tries to promote the use of solar technologies in different sectors. The presentation comprises an outline of the available solar technologies – passive, photovoltaic and solar thermal – and gives a more in-depth description of the latter given its multiple advantages and spread within the country.

This case study is the result of a partnership between New Zealand’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), the country’s dairy farmers and technical experts, showing the benefits of solar water heating and waste heat recovery systems used to reduce energy costs.

Because of the climatic conditions of New Zealand and the positive impact of solar water heating technologies the country’s authorities encourage the use of this type of installations. This resulted in the issuing of a free guide by the country’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).

The article was written by the researchers S.E. Thomas and C.R. Lloyd from the University of Otago, New Zealand, and published by the New Zealand Solar Industries Association.

Their research comes in the context of governmental efforts to increase the penetration of solar hot water heaters in domestic applications in order to enhance energy efficiency of domestic housing.

SolarCity New Zealand Limited has been building, retailing and installing solar hot water systems for 30 years. To receive the carboNZero certification, the company has measured its greenhouse gas emissions pursuant to ISO 14064-1:2006 and has pledged to reduce them further. The carboNZero programme was established in 2001 by Landcare Research New Zealand Limited, a research institute owned by the New Zealand government. Since a merger with collector manufacturer and system supplier Solar Technology Systems Ltd in 2010, SolarCity has become New Zealand’s largest solar company and has, meanwhile, begun to offer off-grid and grid-connected PV systems as well.
Photo: SolarCity

This document reports the results of a study undertaken at the Ager Sectus Winery, near Blenheim, in New Zealand. The study looked at different solar cooling technologies and their possible use in the winery.

The document starts by explaining the different solar cooling technologies (PV, heat engine, absorption chiller, etc). Solar thermal absorption cooling is the most popular air-conditioning application and is used in different parts of the world. The performance of the systems is still variable, but the average payback period is of 15-20 years.

Taiwan remains a country strongly dominated by flat plate collectors. Solarthermalworld.org spoke with local solar thermal manufacturers and planners about the advantages of the technology in comparison to vacuum tubes. The photo shows an installation at the elementary school in the municipality of Jin-Yue - planned and installed by Taiwanese company Wang Aun.
Photo: Wang Aun

This document, prepared by the New Zealand Solar Industry Association (SIA), is an example of a guide explaining how to evaluate domestic timber framed dwellings for the installation of solar collectors and store tanks placed on the roof.
The manual was intended to supplement the standard NZS3604 and identify when specific engineering design is required.

This document, prepared by the New Zealand Solar Industry Association (SIA), is an example of a guide explaining how to obtain approval from a building consent authority for a solar thermal system installation.

This guide was done with the support of SWH suppliers, builders, homeowners’ agents and architects by explaining typical information needed for a SWH building consent application. It is meant to assist in preparing plans, specifications and general documentation needed for a building consent application.