Current solar and heat pump water heating projects

Solar and heat pump water heating has the potential to save New Zealand businesses in their on-going operational costs for hot water services. 

More information about EECA funding for business.

A short term funding initiative (called the Innovation Fund) was used to support a wide range of solar and heat pump water heating initatives, to provide useful information and resources to businesses, government and the industry. 

Information about these initiatives are below, and will be further expanded as the projects progress, and performance monitoring results become available.

Accommodation (installation and monitoring projects)

Community facilities

Dairy industry / farming

Health care facilities

Other commercial

Research and development (R&D) and study

Sports and recreation

Training & education

Accommodation (installation and monitoring projects)

• Jean Sandell Retirement Village in New Plymouth is installing a 112m² Ecosolar solar water heating system as a preheat to gas boilers in this Ryman Healthcare facility. Stage 1 of project caters to the main care building with 62 serviced apartments, 108 care beds and communal facilities for the whole of the village. The project owner is Ryman Healthcare Ltd
• Central Park Motor Inn in Taumaranui is installing a 16m² SolarTech solar water heating installation with gas backup into the central motel block which has 14 rooms, a restaurant and conference rooms.
• Rawhiti Backpackers, Geraldine is installing an 8m² SolarTech solar water heating system to replace a diesel/electric hot water heating system for backpacker-style accommodation catering for 18 guests.
• Fiordland Great Views Holiday Park is installing a 31.2m² JNJ Solar solar water heating system that replaces a diesel/electric hot water heating system. The park includes motel units, tourist flats, cabins, and caravan and tent sites.
• Timaru Top 10 Holiday Park is installing a 10m² SolarTech solar water heating system on their shower block. This system will be used as a preheater for an exisiting gas system.
• Michael Park School and Kindergartens, Ellerslie, Auckland is installing a 16m² Solahart solar water heating system into the Rudolf Steiner Kindergarten. The kindergarten is being upgraded to have capacity for 100 children.
• YMCA Wainui Park, Christchurch is installing a 13m² Apricus solar water heating system onto the ablution block of Wainui Park that will service the new cabin camping area, sleeping up to 110 guests. The system uses solar water heating as a pre-heater and gas as a backup.
• Te Puia, Rotorua is the tourist attraction which incorporates the Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley, Maori Cultural Experience and NZ Maori Arts and Crafts Institute. A 4.2m² Zen International solar water heating system and a 12m² Energie Solaire roof-integrated solar water heating system will provide water heating for the restaurant and café at Te Puia.
• United Campervans, Christchurch is installing a 13m² Apricus evacuator tube solar water heating system with gas backup. The facility launders up to 25 loads of linen per day for campervans that are rented to traveling tourists.
• Bay View Snapper Holiday Park, Napier is installing a 12m² SolarTech solar water heating system with gas back up for the centralised hot water system for the holiday park showers and kitchen blocks.
• Footprints by the Sea Lodge, Tahunanui, Nelson is installing a 12m² Azzuro solar water heating installation with electricity as backup to replace a system using bottled LPG. The lodge has a potential occupancy of 30 residents per night. The project owner is T & F Rea.
• Albatross Inn, Dunedin is installing a 28m² JNJ Solar solar water heating system into a nine bedroom guest house with five existing hot water systems.
• Dunedin Holiday Park is installing a 30.4m² JNJ Solar solar water heating system onto a combined gas/electric hot water heating system for the main shower block at the holiday park. The project owner is Dunedin Holiday Park.
• Solscape Accommodation Centre, Raglan is installing three stages of Ecosolar solar water heating systems with gas backup into the Eco retreat and progressive learning centre. The accommodation includes cabins, batches and tee pees among its building types. Read the case study.
• Aspiring Campervan Park, Wanaka is installing a 30m² solar water heating system onto the ablution block and the manager's accommodation of the park which will offset diesel and electricity usage. This site currently uses 1,400 litres of hot water per day.
• Duncannon Workers Accommodation, Blenheim is installing a 95m² Solahart solar water heating system into accommodation designed for 200 seasonal workers. This project is an example of how solar and heat recovery can be combined for greater overall system efficiency and demonstrates potential for other commercial and light industrial applications. The project owner is Simply Solar Ltd.
• Devon Park Apartments, Stanley Pt, Auckland is installing a 96m² retrofit Azzuro solar water heating system into a 57 apartment, 14 storey building built in 1967 that currently uses diesel and gas for domestic water heating and a swimming pool. The project owner is Envirogroup Ltd.
• The Department of Conservation is installing heat pump water heaters into sites that are unsuitable for solar. Ten heat pump water heaters will be installed in DOC facilities across the country. These sites will be montiored and compared to other DOC solar water heating installations. The project owner is the Department of Conservation.
• Larchview Holiday Park, Central Otago - an Azzuro SWH installation to replace a diesel boiler in the amenity block.
• Waiteti Trout Stream Holiday Park, Rotorua - a SUNZ SWH installation to replace a coal burner for the toilet and shower block and motels units.
• YMCA Wanganui - Raukawa Adventure Centre - an Edwards SWH installation for the ablution block and kitchens with an existing wood boiler back up.
• Anchorage Motel Te Anau - a Solahart SWH installation with gas backup into a 14 unit motel. IF Project owner: Solar Group Ltd.
• The Victoria Hotel, Dunedin - an Azzuro SWH installation into a 40 guest room hotel. IF Project owner: DH Kim Family Trust.
• George St Studio Accommodation, Dunedin - an Azzuro SWH installation into a 14 room student accommodation block with common bathroom and kitchen facilities. IF Project owner: Serviceman Ltd.
• Burnham Military Camp, Canterbury - an installation of ten Exceed HPWHs into military houses and comparative monitoring with similar homes with electric hot water heating. IF Project owner: Efficient Heating NZ Ltd.
• Arthur's Court Motel, Christchurch - a Sunshine Solar SWH installation with gas and electricity backup. The financing model will be compared with the results from the SWH leasing scheme at Belle Bonne motel (below). IF Project owner: Advanced Solar Technologies Ltd.
• SkyCity Complex, Auckland - a SWH installation with gas backup for the outdoor swimming pool. The system will supply excess summer heat into the general hot water system. IF Project owner: Project Solar.
• WEL Networks Ltd, Hamilton - a pilot project of eight SWH installations ‘rented' to customers from their lines company.
• Mangonui Hotel, Northland - a Solahart SWH installation with gas backup into a 14 room Heritage One hotel. IF Project owner: Apex Plumbing Ltd.
• Waipara Boys Brigade Camp, Christchurch - A Sunshine Solar SWH installation onto various buildings at the Waipara Boys Brigade Camp. IF Project owner: Advanced Solar Technologies Ltd.
• HPWHs installed and monitored in three residential locations in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Stiebel Eltron systems installed. IF Project owner: Parex Industries Ltd.
• Belle Bonne Motel, Christchurch - installation of a leased Sunshine Solar SWH system into a motel in Christchurch. The financing model will be compared with the system installed at Arthur's Court Motel (above). IF Project owner: Advanced Solar Technologies Ltd.
• Kingsgate Hotel Autolodge Paihia, Bay of Islands - a Beacon SWH installation onto two large hotel blocks which include guest rooms, laundry, kitchen, restaurant and bar.
• Christchurch Schools HPWH Project - this project will install HPWH's into the boarding houses at two Christchurch schools and monitor the results.
• Nelson YHA is installing and monitoring a 117m2 solar water heating system with gas back up onto their hostel in Nelson which has a large north facing roof.

Community facilities

• Orokonui Ecosanctuary, Dunedin - a combination of SWH and HPWH installations into the new Visitor and Education Centre at the Ecosanctuary. The project will be managed by the Otago Natural History Trust and construction is expected to be completed in August 2009. 
• Turangi Aquatic Centre - installation of a combination of HPWH, SWH and heat recovery systems into a new community swimming pool that opened in August 2008. IF Project owner: Taupo District Council.

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Dairy industry / farming

To find out more about these four demonstration projects below, read the case study.

• Dairy farms project - SWH installations on at least two dairy farm milking sheds including sites in Picton and Havelock. IF Project owner: Ecogise Ltd.
• Climatemaster has undertaken a project to convert a standard chiller plant into a dual heat pump water heater. This installation of a heat pump water heater onto a New Plymouth dairy farm intends to monitor the system and demonstrate its potential for other commercial/light industrial applications. The project owner is Climatemaster Ltd. 
• Solar Commerical has undertaken a project to install transportable dairy shed solar water heating systems into two to five trial sites. The project owner is Solar Commercial Ltd.
• Brumby Farm, Waihi - SWH and waste heat recycling installation in a dairy farm. IF Project Owner: Energy Alternatives Coromandel Ltd.

• Milton Dairy Farm, Otago is installing a 16m2 JNJ Solar solar water heating system retrofitted to two existing hot water cylinders on a dairy shed in Otago. The project owner is Arthur Sykes & Carolyn Anthony.
• Solar Group Ltd is undertaking a grants for Cow Sheds project. This project provides a $250 per m2 of panel grant for each farm installing a Solahart system. The first two systems installed will provide working examples and then may roll out to up to 8 more farms. Monitoring will provide performance results. The project owner is Solar Group Ltd.
• Glendev Farms, Reporoa - SWH installation with gas backup in a dairy farm. IF Project owner: Solar Renewable Energy Ltd.

Health care facilities

• Raglan Hospital is installing a 16m² Solahart solar water heating system into their hospital which uses 800 litres of hot water per day. The hospital currently operates with an old centralised diesel boiler. The project owner is the Raglan Hospital Trust.
• Rowena Jackson Retirement Village, Invercargill - installation of ground source heat pumps for the hot water heating requirements of 20 serviced apartments. IF Project owner: Ryman Healthcare Ltd.
• Parklands Hospital, Christchurch - a SWH installation into a rest home in Christchurch. IF Project owner: Guardian Healthcare Group.
• Community Hospital, Motueka - a SWH installation on the new 46 bed hospital opened in 2009. IF Project owner: NZ Solar.

Other commercial

• The Taupo SPCA is installing a heat pump water heating system to provide a warm and dry environment for the animals and staff. Due for installation in June 2009, it offers a good example to light commercial/industry users and other animal welfare applications. The project owner is the Taupo SPCA.
• Leigh Sawmill Brewery, Rodney District is installing a 8.5m2 10 Kilowat vacuum tube solar water heating system on their building an hour north of Auckland. The brewery uses filtered rain water which will be heated by the solar panels for the brewing process. The project owner is Peter Freckleton.
• Installation and monitoring of three Siddons Solarstream HPWHs in domestic applications. IF Project owner: Electrix Ltd.

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Research and development (R&D) and study

• HPWH Ltd are undertaking a project exploring the options for sterilisation and washing for dairy sheds. This project is to design a heat pump water heater suitable for the dairy industry for heating approximately 500 litres per wash, at 800 Celsius and to reduce the cooling load on the milk vat by ‘mining' waste heat. The project owner is HPWH Ltd.
• Network Waitaki Ltd is undertaking a project to explore the integration of Oamaru CBD civic building heating systems. This challenging project is assessing the feasibility of a ring main of warm water system for use by a number of different civic buildings, each with different and seasonally varying heating and cooling requirements. The potential heating solutions could also include solar to help reduce overall energy requirements. All sites are within a 250m radius and include a swimming pool, offices, and a hospital. The project owner is Network Waitaki Ltd.
• School Admin Services Ltd will undertake a Feasibility Study for leased solar water heating in non-government owned schools. This project will investigate the option of leased solar water heating for school hostels by installing and monitoring the energy savings from five non-government owned school hostels. The leased model is expected to encourage the uptake of solar as there is no upfront capital cost to the school. The project owner is School Admin Services Ltd.
• Solar City New Zealand Ltd is leading the Nelson Solar City Solar Water Heating Pilot. This study uses 25 solar water heating installations in homes, businesses and schools to assess the technical viability of a broader ‘solar city' concept. The project proposes to develop web-based self-assessment tools including an automated request system, on-line monitoring and web-based publishing of results. The outcomes will include electronic financing, installation and business processes that would support an extensive roll-out of solar water heating to the city of Nelson. The project owner is Solar City New Zealand Ltd.
• Solarclips Ltd are investigating the development of a automatic thermal control for evacuated tube collectors to prevent overheating called an Automatic Solar Shade. The project owner is Solarclips Ltd.
• Sigma Sheet Metal is undertaking a project to study cost effective solar thermal heat stores. This project will develop and test a range of large low pressure storage tanks. The project owner is Sigma Sheetmetal Products Ltd.
• St Andrews College, Christchurch will lead this project to investigate a groundwater-sourced heat pump system for heating new school buildings in Christchurch. The project owner is St Andrews College.
• Roof integrated unglazed SWH system designed, installed, tested and monitored. IF Project owner: Environmental Energy Solutions.
• Hot water supply company - a feasibility study investigating the potential for a company model to install hot water heating equipment and sell the hot water to commercial users. IF Project owner: East Harbour Management Services.
• R&D into building integrated solar water heating systems on two sites within Waikato University. IF Project owner: WaikatoLink Ltd.
• A research project into split flow technology in hot water heat pumps. IF Project owner: Heat Pump Water Heaters Ltd.
• A feasibility study on the use of solar cooling technology in the NZ wine industry. IF Project owner: Project Solar Ltd.
• Commercial solar performance modelling - development of a computer modeling software tool for use in commercial SWH installation design. IF Project owner: Project Solar Ltd. The initial version of the application, suitable for common designs of proposed systems, is available free of charge to the solar industry through EECA and the Solar Industries Association for use by installers and suppliers.
• Heat pump water heating performance testing by Consumer NZ. A project to test the performance of domestic unit heat pump water heaters available on the NZ market under normal NZ operating conditions. Results available now.

Sports and recreation

• Kaeo Rugby Club, Northland is installing an Econergy HP4000 heat pump water heater and a Rinnai gas system into a community rugby sports facility. Winter usage is of interest in this project as the facility is also used as community events centre. The project owner is AT Plumbing and Gas.
• Citifitness Gym, Nelson is installing a 76m² Solar water heating system boosted by gas. This gym has high hot water usage and expects to make significant savings with this system.

Training & education

• The New Zealand Hot Water Association (NZHWA) is undertaking a sustainable water heating awareness for plumbers project. This education / training project features a road show and a 5-8 hour training module using the Australian Green Plumbers® training model to train plumbers in heat pump water heating technology and installation. The project compliments the timing of the EECA HPWH scheme that is currently running and aims to include an opportunity for attending plumbers to gain training credits. The project owner is the New Zealand Hot Water Association. For details on how to register, please see the NZHWA website.
• Master Plumbers is undertaking a project to bring the Green Plumber solar water heating training to New Zealand. The project will introduce a national Green Plumbers® solar water heating training programme to increase the New Zealand plumbing industry capacity for solar water heating advice and installations. Eleven courses will be run in 2009 across Auckland, Hamilton, Wanganui, New Plymouth, Wellington, Nelson and Christchurch. The project owner is Master Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers NZ Inc.
• Development of a national certification training course for commercial solar water heating installation by the Plumbing Gasfitting and Drainlayers ITO. The course is open to plumbers and other interested parties.
• Construction and use of a demonstration trailer for solar water heating systems. The trailer is for public education on SWH products and performance in Otago. IF Project owner: Otago Polytech.

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