Sunny forecast for Nelson solar company

A Nelson company, Solar Technology Systems, has been contracted to supply one of New Zealand's largest solar hot water heating systems for a new public swimming pool being built in Dargaville.

Director Frank Witowski said his company was invited to tender for the job, which involves the installation of 1890 solar tubes to heat the 50-metre public pool.

"There's 300 square metres of roof and it's pretty much fully taken up with solar collector tubes. It's absolutely huge," he said. His calculations showed the solar panel system should, on an ideal day, be able to heat up to 95 per cent of the pool.

Solar Association executive officer Brian Cox said it was the biggest system that he was aware of in recent times.

Mr Witowski said the pool construction was expected to being soon. His part will begin about July and take two weeks to complete, using additional contract staff as required. He declined to reveal what the job was worth.

The contract, awarded last month, is another step forward for his company, which began in operating in 2004. Mr Witowski worked in Germany as a boilermaker and shifted to New Zealand with his Kiwi wife in 1996, working for Nelson firms Nalder and Biddle and Brightwater Engineers before starting his own company. Having researched the various solar collectors available, Mr Witowski worked with a company in China to improve an existing design.

He has since established three franchises in Christchurch, Timaru and Blenheim and has a network of distributors throughout the country.

"If you've got a good product, it's easy to get good people on board."

Mr Witowski said he also had representatives in the Middle East. "I can only say, `Watch that space'. We've made a lot of good contacts now."

Solar Technology Systems is also the preferred supplier to the Placemakers chain of stores and has been selected to participate in Nelson's Solar City pilot study.

Nelson MP Nick Smith got the company to install solar panels on his home last year and has applauded Mr Witowski's work through a reference posted on the company's website.

- © Fairfax NZ News