Renewable energy growth, or more specifically the solar power boom, is not only a way to fight global warming and climate change, it has become an economic standard in New Zealand households.
According to the latest statistics, the number of solar power facilities across New Zealand has more than tripled in a year and a half. This figure was released by the Electricity Networks Association (ENA) which is formed by the electricity distributors of the country. The statistics were revealed weeks after Vector, a distribution company, announced its partnership with US tech and energy solution giant Tesla. The company aims to bring the latest storage batteries to consumers in both New Zealand and Australia in the early part of 2016.
“For a consumer who has access to solar energy, it is not just the lowering of the household’s overall power bill that will be of interest. It also means one has access to a low-user fixed charge. This means that as renewable energy consumption rises, adequate reduction to the payment for lines network maintenance will be allotted. In retrospect, this increases cost subsidy to non-solar power users,” said ENA Chief Executive Graeme Peters.
New Zealand’s Auckland area leads the pack as the number of solar energy consumers come in sheer numbers. This number also comes toe to toe with the cumulative output of the Tasman and Nelson districts. In the Tasman district alone, the statistics were around 41 solar power systems for every 10, 000 people, with the national average slated at just 12.
According to Nelson resident, Carolyn Hughes, the rising statistics in solar energy consumption no longer just rely on the area’s high levels of sunlight. “It so happens that there is quite a few number of people living remotely. Tasman, in particular, has a number of residents who wish to go completely independent from the grid. This is on top of those eco-villages who are incorporating community-owned photovoltaic systems,” she added.
Ms. Hughes reiterated that most of them are eyeing the promise of residential energy storage systems in the hope of getting one at a lower cost. The current involvement of power companies such as Vector and its partnership with Tesla batteries delivers a promise that will create a sweeping change in the market pretty soon.
Photo courtesy of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
