Foodstuffs North Island: NZ’s first megawatt roof top array
Foodstuffs North Island will install a 1.16 MWp solar panel array, the largest in the New Zealand PV market
SITE LOCATION: Auckland
COMPLETION: 2020
CLIENT: Foodstuffs North Island
Foodstuffs North Island (FSNI) will install the largest array of solar panels in the country, on the roof of its Distribution Centre currently under construction at the Landing Business Park near Auckland airport. The 1.16 MWp array will be the largest in the rapidly evolving New Zealand PV market.
Re/volve Energy worked closely with FSNI to determine the appropriate array size for the site, and economics across the length of building lease. Our role also included working closely with the building architects, electrical and structural engineers to integrate the design into the building.
Simon Wilson of RDT Pacific, the Director and Sustainable Development Advisor for the project, says the economic viability of this system for Foodstuffs signals a turning point in the industry.
“As a major electricity consumer – Foodstuffs has obvious purchasing leverage and the solar option still stacks up. For this reason, this renewable energy solution should be attractive to many more businesses.”
Shay Brazier of Revolve Energy, the PV consultant for Foodstuffs says that innovation in PV technology has continued to drive down international prices allowing PV to begin to compete with conventional energy generation sources in New Zealand. "We applaud Foodstuffs for this strategic initiative; they are setting a benchmark for other New Zealand businesses.”