Solar Photovoltaic examples

The Dynamis Project concentrated on assisting three schools in Lower Hutt to install solar PV. Here is an update on the first two:

Maungaraki School, 10kW Solar PV

Maungaraki School, in Maungaraki, Lower Hutt had 10kW of solar PV installed in mid January 2014. Maungaraki School raised funding for their installation purely through grants and donations, so they benefited from the savings from day one. The installation company was CPS Solar Ltd, based in Christchurch. 40 panels and 2 x 5 kW Enasolar inverters were installed, which took 2 days, with another half day for the IT setup.

One year later, records show that Maungaraki generated an average of 1167 kWh a month. The panels peaked on one day in November 2014, generating over 80 kW, which shows that the panels produce more power when the temperatures are slightly cooler. Having solar PV has reduced their power consumption by nearly 68%. In dollar terms, they will be saving over $5,000 a year! These savings will increase, as they introduce more power saving features. For example, they have converted their library lighting over to LEDs, courtesy of Ecopoint. LED tube lighting reduces lighting power consumption by at least 50%.

Naenae Primary, 10kW Solar PV

Naenae Primary School, in Naenae, Lower Hutt, had 10kW of solar PV installed in mid January 2014. Naenae raised funding for their installation purely through grants and donations, so they benefited from the savings from day one. The installation company was CPS Solar Ltd, based in Christchurch. 40 panels and 2 x 5 kW Enasolar inverters were installed which took two days, with another half day for the IT setup.

Six months later, records show that Naenae generates between 560 kWh and 1480 kWh a month. Averaged out, the solar panels have reduced their power consumption by over 47%. This reduction will increase, as they introduce more power saving features. For example, they have converted their library lighting over to LEDs, courtesy of Ecopoint.

Gracefield School, 15kW Solar PV

Gracefield School, in Gracefield, Lower Hutt had 15kW of solar PV installed, on two areas, in September 2014. Gracefield School raised funding for their installation purely through grants and donations, so they benefited from the savings from day one. The installation company was Right House Ltd who unfortunately, some years later, closed down.

Panels are Canadian Solar and the Inverter is a Fronius IG Plus120, 2 days install and half a day IT setup.

A year before solar panels were installed their power bill for the full year was $9,319.42. A full year's power use measured two years after PV was installed was $4,742.44. Having solar has reduced their power consumption by over 50%. In dollar terms, they will be saving over $4,500 a year! As power increases in price, those savings will increase.