In comparison, grid supplied electricity has been increasing around three per cent per annum for the past 10 years, with no signs of slowing down.
The PowerSmart GOLD system is sized so that the business, school or organisation consumes all of the electricity generated without the need to store any excess supply and/or sell it back to electricity companies at low buy-back prices. "Getting this right is crucial which is why PowerSmart does a full solar feasibility assessment to make sure solar is right for the business, says Simons.
One of the first businesses to sign up to PowerSmart GOLD is winemaker Yealands, which was the world's first winery to be certified carboNZeroCertTM.
Yealands profits from the marketing, sustainability and fixed price electricity benefits of solar electricity, but without any capital investment. The winery business signed a 20-year deal which offers direct quantifiable benefits to its bottom line.
The 99kW solar electricity system on the roof of Yealands Estate Winery in Blenheim was New Zealand's first utility scale PowerSmart GOLD solar electricity system.
Two years on the system has reduced Yealands' electricity consumption from the grid by more than 10 per cent, its C02 emissions by 90 tonnes, and produces over 130 megawatts hours of electricity per annum.
Other organisations that use PowerSmart systems include the Palmerston North City Council, Sylvia Park shopping centre and the Tarewa Mega Centre. "This is not just for greenies," says Simons, "but forward-thinking businesses looking at smart ways to reduce costs and make a difference."
PowerSmart GOLD has numerous sustainability benefits. For example, a 100kW solar PV farm will offset approximately 90 metric tonnes of CO2. But the bottom line in cost savings has been the driving force for many businesses. "It is for business people who want to make smart business decisions," says Simons.
One such organisation focused on the business case for PowerSmart's offerings is the Tarewa Mega Centre in Whangarei.
Shopping malls use a lot of electricity and have high baseload levels of electricity consumption - especially in the summer to power air conditioning systems. The Tarewa mall on-sells its electricity production to tenants, making it a win-win situation for all parties.
The numbers made it an easy decision to install the 924 panel system, says John Udy of Udy Group, which owns the centre. "We are not sandal-wearing hippies," says Udy. "We are business people. Our motivation was the return on investment aspect on it."
Udy adds that the work was done to a high standard and ahead of time. "I am really pleased with the whole thing," he says.
Two months after the Tarewa contract, PowerSmart installed New Zealand's largest solar electricity system at Sylvia Park. The massive 350kW system generates almost 16 per cent of the centre's base building energy consumption.
The zero hidden fees aspect of the contracts is proving appealing. What's more, PowerSmart contracts covers issues such as what happens if the owner sells the building and the process should a business want to buy the system outright at the end of the fixed term.
PowerSmart has teamed up with NZ Equity Partners, a New Zealand-based private investment group, to fund the installation and ownership of 15MW+ of solar electricity systems on commercial buildings around New Zealand.
The partnership, called SolPho, funds the upfront capital and maintenance costs of the PowerSmart GOLD solar PV systems.
For further information visit powersmartgold.com
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