Hubbards switches to solar power

PETER MEECHAM/FAIRFAX MEDIA

SOLAR BREAKFAST: Solar panels installed at the Mangere factory of breakfast cereal maker Hubbards Foods will produce enough power to light up an entire warehouse, but it doesn't come cheap.

Relevant offers

Industries

Dream Homes comes to a halt Waikato land targeted in energy exploration Price hike for network repairs rejected Enable offers more for less Solid Energy plans opencast site Search for oil, gas may near Wellington Feltex class action swells by 800 Banks take $3b profit overseas National grid upgrades blamed for power price rises Jobs rise at expense of fulltimers

A new thin film solar panel array unveiled today at the Mangere factory of breakfast cereal maker Hubbards Foods will produce enough power to light up an entire warehouse, but it doesn't come cheap.

Auckland infrastructure company Vector, which installed the system, estimated the electricity cost at 50c/kWh.

That's more than four times the average price of electricity for industrial users of about 12c/kWh according to figures from the Ministry of Economic Development.

Hubbards' business founder and chairman, Dick Hubbard said the solar array - the largest of its kind in New Zealand - was not a short term commitment.

''In 20 years time, these panels will be functioning at similar levels they are today.''

Vector CEO Simon Mackenzie said the installation was an opportunity for Vector to understanding the effect of distributed solar panel systems on its electricity network.

''In particular we want to ensure that our network can support this technology into the future,'' he said.

Combined, the 160 solar panel installation covering 227.5 sq m will generate 29,000 kW/h of electricity a year and will be used to power the lighting for Hubbards' finished goods warehouse.

This is equivalent to the electricity consumed by 3.5 homes over the course of a year.

The a key feature of the panels is their ability to function on a cloudy day.

- © Fairfax NZ News