Auckland Museum will be building on its energy efficiency efforts by installing a solar panel system on its roof by January next year.
The system, to be installed with the support of Meridian Energy, is expected to generate 77,000 kWh annually and will be one of the largest grid-connected photovoltaic installations in New Zealand.
Auckland Museum stands on the hill known by Māori as Pukekawa and has occupied the site since 1929. The Museum tells the story of New Zealand as a nation; from award-winning natural history exhibits to galleries that investigate New Zealand’s cultural origins.
As the Museum is a heritage building, the rooftop solar array will not exceed parapet height in order to maintain heritage character.
“We have already been recognised for saving dollars and carbon,” says Auckland Museum Director Roy Clare “Generating electricity onsite through solar energy is an obvious next step that aligns with one of our guiding principles: kaitiakitanga.”
According to Wikipedia, kaitiakitanga is the “process and practices of protecting and looking after the environment”.
Auckland Mayor Len Brown has applauded the initiative, stating that the uptake of renewable energy is “an important environmental goal on the path towards making Auckland the world’s most liveable city.”
The Museum team are now engaged in reviewing concept designs from potential suppliers for the system.
Project partner Meridian Energy is New Zealand’s largest renewable energy generator. The company has a wind power capacity portfolio of 356 megawatts; enough to supply 179,000 average New Zealand households. Its hydro stations have a combined installed capacity of 2388 megawatts.
Increasingly, public buildings are going solar to not only reduce operational carbon footprints and running costs, but to also demonstrate environmental leadership within communities.
In Australia, a couple of examples of public buildings harnessing the power of the sun include Federation Square and Port Macquarie Library.
