22 | Better power for Stewart Island PTM has recommended a two megawatt solar farm and a four megawatt battery, providing about 75% diesel displacement as being the best value for Stewart Island.. Southland District Council T T Russell Fredric REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Reducing electricity costs for Stewart Island residents by creating a solar energy area with batteries could replace up to 75% of diesel used once it is implemented. Southland District Council Mayor Rob Scott, councillor Jon Spraggon and community board chair Aaron Conner, together with technical experts from PTM Solar, explained the approach to about 80 residents at a meeting on the island on January 17. “It has been the steering group’s priority to get something done about the cost of electricity on the island for the past 18 months, as the impact on islanders is high, and this has been a talking point for several years,” Rob says. Council secured $300,000 of government funding and engaged PTM to undertake a significant project to advise it of the next best steps to take. The draft document, available on the council’s website, was given to the steering group just before Christmas. PTM has recommended a two megawatt solar farm and a four megawatt battery, providing about 75% diesel displacement as being the best value. “We have agreed that a staged approach will be the best way to achieve immediate benefits and to go with the recommended option, which will not only reduce reliance on diesel to a large extent, but also be a more future-proof solution. “The first stage is to create a solar energy farm with batteries on appropriate land. This will supplement the diesel generators, not replace them, and so improvements are planned for the whole network and to ensure the generators are operating in the most efficient way,” the mayor says. The second stage involves implementing another source of renewable energy, possibly wind. The council wants to keep the momentum going and there will be further investigation of the source while implementation of stage one is underway. The goal is to enable electricity on the island to be generated by renewable energy so that not only will residents have a reliable and relatively affordable solution for their electricity needs, but economic development in the form of tourism and aquaculture can also be enhanced. “Council will be submitting a proposal to the Regional Infrastructure Fund for the funding of this project very soon, as it will be impossible for 400 residents to cover the capital costs. This is a one-off investment that will give new life to the island and secure a strong future for the islanders. “Council is excited about the plan and the agreed option and we are looking forward to working with the Government to support the community on something the islanders have wanted for a long time,” Mayor Scott says. Address: PO Box 1614, Invercargill 9840 E: karlhawkes@outlook.com www.allancontracting.co.nz • Subdivisions • Footpaths • Commercial Carparks • Residential Carparks • Patios • Concrete Driveways • BBQ Areas CONTRACTING FOR YOUR MACHINE LAID KERBING & ALL YOUR CONCRETE NEEDS ALLAN Karl Hawkes - 027 407 0745 CALL 03 211 1000 SOUTHROADS.CO.NZ Specialists in civil and road engineering across Southland and Otago » Drainage » Earthworks » Aggregate supply & cartage » General siteworks » Landscaping » Subdivisions » Driveways Phone: 03 983 5500 waterfordpress.co.nz Your Business, Your Industry, Your News. DO OUR READERS KNOW YOU EXIST?
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