Greenpeace to solarise half a million homes

Greenpeace has unveiled a plan that would see half a million New Zealand homes solarised over the next 10 years with money currently being used to subsidise the oil and gas industry.

The plan was launched last week as the Greenpeace flagship, Rainbow Warrior, arrived in Auckland to begin a national tour to celebrate the Government's April announcement that there will be no new offshore oil and gas exploration permits.

Greenpeace will also be holding events around the country about New Zealand's transition to clean energy.

The 20-page discussion, Seize the Sun, explores the current energy climate, the problems with our power sector, and the steps the Labour-led coalition needs to take over the next two years to secure a clean, modern, and affordable energy system for New Zealanders.

Greenpeace is petitioning the Government to adopt the plan.

Greenpeace climate and energy campaigner, Amanda Larsson, says fitting out half a million homes with solar and batteries over the next 10 years would provide a much-needed injection of clean electricity into the New Zealand energy system.

'Not only would this help to reduce our climate pollution, but it would put power back in the hands of New Zealanders, increase the resilience of the national grid, and lower energy bills across the board,” she says.

'When the Coalition Government made the announcement in April banning new offshore oil and gas exploration permits, it sent a clear message that we must look elsewhere for the energy to run our cars, homes and economy.”

'We now need to urgently embark on an ambitious programme to build the new clean energy required to replace the fuels of the past. Significantly increasing the amount of home-grown clean power we generate from the sun sits at the heart of this transition.”

National grid operator Transpower, forecasts a doubling in demand for electricity in New Zealand over the next 30 years, driven by the electrification of transport and industry. It predicts we'll need as many as 1.5 million solar households.

Greenpeace's 10 year solar plan would work through a Government interest free loan on panels and a battery, delivering solar power with no upfront costs for the homeowner. It would be financed by diverting the $78 million to $88 million a year of public money currently spent of subsidies for the oil and gas industry.

The plan would provide additional support to 100,000 lower incomes home through a government grant that would cover at least half of the system cost.

The zero interest loans would be attached to the house that receives the solar panels and batteries, not to the individuals who own it or rent it. They could be administered through Regional Councils, and paid back through rates. Much in the same way that home insulation loans have been managed to date.

Amanda says the way New Zealand's energy system currently works means the national grid is scaled to meet demand during just a few hours of the day when it's the highest.

'It's inefficient and costly to build that much infrastructure when most of the time it's not even being used,” she says.

'By installing 500,000 batteries in homes, we can ensure that energy is stored when it's most abundant, and then deployed when it's most needed. This reduces the enormous cost of building more local distribution and transmission lines to meet demand at peak times.”

If implemented, this would contribute 1.5 GW of new clean power – or one and a half times the capacity of Huntly Power station – and 3 GW of grid-stabilising battery storage to New Zealand's electricity grid over the next decade.

Amanda says the solar plan is part of a wider programme of regulatory reform needed in New Zealand, outlined in Greenpeace's Seize the Sun discussion paper, which includes doubling down on energy efficiency and supporting community energy schemes.

The paper was released hot on the heels of the Government's first Electricity Price Review report, which is investigating why residential power prices are so high in New Zealand.

'What's now required is a full rethink of how our electricity is designed, run and regulated. Timid adjustments won't be enough,” says Amanda.

'We have a once in a generation opportunity right in front of us to ensure New Zealanders live more comfortably, while significantly increasing clean electricity for everyone's benefit.”

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3 comments

Sounds good...

Posted on 21-09-2018 09:54 | By morepork

It is a very good case and needs more detailed investigation. Given that solar and storage technology is getting better all the time, this looks like a step in the right direction. I hope it won't just be dismissed by the pertinent Government Department because it wasn't thought up by them... This idea deserves a chance.


No lower power bills from this

Posted on 21-09-2018 14:30 | By astex

Sorry but power bills will not drop as a result of this. Base load capacity gas to still be maintained for when the sun doesn't shine. Oh, and without our coal stations how will we cope if we have a long hot summer and lake levels are low?


solar works

Posted on 28-09-2018 14:51 | By Carlos spicywiener

solar is totally worth it if you do it yourself.


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