Scott Willis
Blueskin Bay could be poised to become New Zealand's
first open air new technology energy laboratory, Waitati Energy
Project co-ordinator Scott Willis says.
National and international companies were interested in a
''community-size trial zone'' for their green technologies,
Mr Willis said yesterday.
Interest was being assessed, but Mr Willis confirmed
companies developing solar, battery, energy monitoring, and
even roofing technologies had their eyes on the district just
north of Dunedin city.
''We have established a pretty unique energy zone at our
end-point on the grid, and there is strong interest in its
potential as a proving ground for new ideas.
''We're energy-aware and we've got an energy-literate
community that can incorporate new technology and provide
good, educated feedback about it.
''There are a lot of good reasons why we could be the open
air laboratory that tests the green technologies that could
benefit communities everywhere.''
The interest follows the project's drive to promote energy
efficiency and the development of an integrated energy
community.
It has spearheaded an insulation retrofit programme and
continues to work to secure a community-owned wind turbine to
generate between 750kW and 850kW of electricity.
It has also promoted the value of generation from small wind
turbines, such as Powerhouse Wind's Thinair turbine, and the
use of solar installations and energy-efficient design.
The turbine was the Blueskin Resilent Communities Trust's
flagship project and further public consultation - pending
Energy Efficiency and Conservation funding - talks with
potential partners, and work on a business model would
continue this year.
Mr Willis would also spend the next few months assessing what
the green technology companies with ''high interest'' could
offer the energy-aware community, he said.
He anticipated they would offer their products at discounted
rates in return for ''real-life and extremely valuable''
consumer feedback from a community-size trial zone.
''The really exciting thing is that this pivots off the
turbine project and all the other work around it.
And that's work that's been done by the community.''
- stu.oldham@odt.co.nz
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.