Sustainability has been a key driver of Te Rimutahi’s development, and the photovoltaic (PV) panels installed on the canopy roof provide a real-world, educational tool to assist people in understanding PV generation.
On-site, 20 panels supply an 8.8 kW grid-tied system. This enables surplus electricity to be exported to the grid for use by others, which in turn contributes to energy resilience and decarbonisation of the grid. The panels are tier 1 panels, meaning the warranty stipulates they will still be producing 80% in 25 years’ time. Bravo!
The PV panels at Te Rimutahi are 20 x Trina 505W solar panels on a single string, without micro inverters. Single-string inverters are easy to install, offer efficient conversion, and are easy to maintain. They are compact, well-designed, and require little maintenance during operation. This low-maintenance feature makes string inverters more economical and practical in long-term use.
The Te Rimutahi PV panels are north-facing and tilted at a 10-degree angle for water runoff and to reduce cleaning requirements. The PVs are not fully tilted due to the aesthetic and sight-line limits.
The real-time output of kilowatts (kW) being produced by the PV panels is shown as a number on the PV display box, underneath the canopy. The Live Lightly team* is currently working on the labelling for this unit, now that Te Rimutahi is complete. Soon you’ll be able to check it out for yourself to see the electricity being generated.
The Te Rimutahi panels are projected to produce 13,500kWh per year and aim to be energy positive over a 12-month period by using the grid to cover peaks, during community events, and absorb the surplus at other times.
The following calculation tools may be useful for people wanting to find out more information: BRANZ https://www.branz.co.nz/photovoltaic-generation-calculator,
or
https://solarpower.cer.auckland.ac.nz
* https://livelightly.nz/
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