Milford Track hut gets solar panels

Tests show clever roof is kea-proof

SWITCHED ON: (From left) Steve Donaldson, of Tansley Electrical, Keith Ivey, of Calder Stewart Roofing, Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson, Invercargill MP Eric Roy and Mike Tou, of Calder Stewart Roofing, check out the latest in solar power technology after it was officially unveiled on Fiordland's Dumpling Hut on Friday

The latest in solar power means trampers on the Milford Track will soon enjoy hot water in an upgrade designed to protect New Zealand's most pristine environment.

Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson officially commissioned a Solar Rib roof on the track's 40-bunk Dumpling Hut in an informal ceremony with Invercargill MP Eric Roy and the product's developers and installers on Friday.

Supplied and installed by southern companies Calder Stewart Roofing and Tansley Electrical, respectively, the Solar Rib technology allows for solar panels to be integrated within the roofing material itself, supplying power for water, lighting and heating without requiring bulky panels above the roof line.

Calder Stewart approached the Department of Conservation to trial the new Solar Rib roofing on back-country huts last year.

DOC Te Anau area manager Reg Kemper said the roofing was a good fit with the department's desire to work with business and to move towards more sustainable infrastructure.

"We were happy to find a hut for Calder Stewart to trial the product," he said. "They've certainly taken up the challenge testing their product for use on huts at Dumpling Hut with its extreme rainfall and winter snow and frosts."

Mike Tou, of Calder Stewart Roofing Invercargill, said while Milford got up to 7000mm of rain per year, the product worked off solar-radiation, which was produced even on cloudy days.

Mr Kemper said the roofing also had to withstand investigation from an inquisitive mountain parrot. Before the roofing was installed at Dumpling Hut a panel was placed at Mintaro Hut to test it against kea, Mr Kemper said.

While kea had been responsible for short circuiting and destroying several power supplies, Calder Stewart's clever design work appeared to have foiled the birds.

"The kea couldn't find anything to get their beaks into on the roof panel, so it got the green light for installation," he said.

Invercargill business Tansley Electrical contributed to the project by designing and supplying a suitable electrical system for the hut. Staff from Calder Stewart, Tansley Electrical and the Department of Conservation installed the roof and system last week.

- © Fairfax NZ News