Successful Innovation Projects

The first two rounds of the Innovation Fund (Nov 07 and Mar 08) have resulted in 42 projects valued around $1.4 million.

Project owners (i.e those applicants who manage the projects) are required to provide monitoring results and findings from the projects over time.

EECA plans to publish these results on this website and provide information to consumers, relevant industry associations and other influencers.

in the meantime, brief details of each project are provided under various categories below:

Research and development (R&D) and Study

  • Roof integrated unglazed SWH system designed, installed, tested and monitored. IF Project owner: Environmental Energy Solutions (Round 2).
  • Hot water supply company – a feasibility study investigating the potential for a company model to install hot water heating equipment and sell the hot water to commercial users. IF Project owner: East Harbour Management Services. (Round 2).
  • R&D into building integrated solar water heating systems on two sites within Waikato University. IF Project owner: WaikatoLink Ltd (Round 1).
  • A residential solar assisted heat pump water heating installation designed, installed, and monitored in Christchurch. IF Project owner: RM Hadley Ltd. (Round 1).
  • A research project into split flow technology in hot water heat pumps. IF Project owner: Heat Pump Water Heaters Ltd (Round 1)
  • A feasibility study on the use of solar cooling technology in the NZ wine industry. IF Project owner: Project Solar Ltd (Round 1).
  • Commercial solar performance modelling - development of a computer modeling software tool for use in commercial SWH installation design. IF Project owner: Project Solar Ltd. The initial version of the application, suitable for common designs of proposed systems, is to be made available free of charge to the solar industry through EECA and the Solar Industries Association for use by installers and suppliers and is anticipated in August (Round 1).
  • Heat pump water heating performance testing by Consumer NZ. A project to test the performance of domestic unit heat pump water heaters available on the NZ market under normal NZ operating conditions. The project results are anticipated to be released at the end of the year (Round 1).

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Training & education

  • Development of a national certification training course for commercial solar water heating installation by the Plumbing Gasfitting and Drainlayers ITO. First course is planned to start in March 2009 and is open to plumbers and other interested parties (Round 2).
  • Construction and use of a demonstration trailer for solar water heating systems. The trailer is for public education on SWH products and performance in Otago. IF Project owner: Otago Polytech (Round 1).

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Dairy industry / farming

  • Markson Farms Ltd, Te Aroha – SWH installation with gas backup in a dairy farm. IF Project owner: Solar Renewable Energy Ltd (Round 2).
  • Brumby Farm, Waihi - SWH and waste heat recycling installation in a dairy farm. IF Project Owner: Energy Alternatives Coromandel Ltd (Round 2).
  • Dairy farms project – SWH installations on at least two dairy farm milking sheds including sites in Picton and Havelock. IF Project owner: Ecogise Ltd (Round 1). View photo.

 Health care facilities

  • Rowena Jackson Retirement Village, Invercargill - installation of ground source heat pumps for the hot water heating requirements of 20 serviced apartments. IF Project owner: Ryman Healthcare Ltd (Round 2).
  • Parklands Hospital, Christchurch – a SWH installation into a rest home in Christchurch. IF Project owner: Guardian Healthcare Group (Round 2).
  • Community Hospital, Motueka – a SWH installation on the new 46 bed hospital scheduled for opening in 2009. IF Project owner: NZ Solar. (Round 2).
  • Rannerdale Veterans Hospital & Home, Christchurch – a HPWH installation in a resthome in Christchurch. IF Project owner: Climate Zone Ltd (Round 1).

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Community facilities

  • Orokonui Ecosanctuary, Dunedin – a combination of SWH and HPWH installations into the new Visitor and Education Centre at the Ecosanctuary. The project will be managed by the Otago Natural History Trust and construction is expected to be completed in August 2009 (Round 2).
  • Turangi Aquatic Centre - installation of a combination of HPWH, SWH and heat recovery systems into a new community swimming pool opening August 2008. IF Project owner: Taupo District Council (Round 2).

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Other commercial

  • A direct access ground source heat pump installation for heating water in a residential and a commercial location. IF Project owner: Heatpump Technologies Ltd (Round 2).
  • Installation and monitoring of three Siddons Solarstream HPWHs in domestic and commercial applications. IF Project owner: Electrix Ltd (Round 1).

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Accommodation (installation and monitoring projects)

  • Larchview Holiday Park, Central Otago - an Azzuro SWH installation to replace a diesel boiler in the amenity block (Round 2).
  • Waiteti trout Stream Holiday Park, Rotorua - a SUNZ SWH installation to replace a coal burner for the toilet and shower block and motels units (Round 2).
  • YMCA Wanganui - Raukawa Adventure Centre – an Edwards SWH installation for the ablution block and kitchens with an existing wood boiler back up (Round 2).
  • Anchorage Motel Te Anau – a Solahart SWH installation with gas backup into a 14 unit motel. IF Project owner: Solar Group Ltd (Round 2).
  • Te Aroha Marae, Wanganui – a Solarpeak SWH installation with gas backup into a new ablution facility. (Round 2).
  • The Victoria Hotel, Dunedin – an Azzuro SWH installation into a 40 guest room hotel IF Project owner: DH Kim Family Trust. (Round 2).
  • The Elms Hotel, Christchurch – A HPWH system installation preheating water for a Christchurch hotel. IF Project owner: Climate Zone Ltd (Round 2).
  • George St Studio Accommodation, Dunedin – an Azzuro SWH installation into a 14 room student accommodation block with common bathroom and kitchen facilities. IF Project owner: Serviceman Ltd (Round 2). View photo.
  • Christchurch flats – a HPWH installation into a seven flat complex. IF Project owner: Climate Zone Ltd (Round 2).
  • Burnham Military Camp, Canterbury – an installation of ten Exceed HPWHs into military houses and comparative monitoring with similar homes with electric hot water heating. IF Project owner: Efficient Heating NZ Ltd (Round 2).
  • Arthur’s Court Motel, Christchurch – a Sunshine Solar SWH installation with gas and electricity backup. The financing model will be compared with the results from the SWH leasing scheme at Belle Bonne motel (below). IF Project owner: Advanced Solar Technologies Ltd (Round 2).
  • SkyCity Complex, Auckland – an Azzuro SWH installation with gas backup for the outdoor swimming pool. The system will supply excess summer heat into the general hot water system. IF Project owner: Project Solar (Round 2).
  • West Coast Rd Affordable Housing Project, Glen Eden - Five SWH installations with monitoring of performance. Project managed by Waitakere City Council, Sustainability Initiatives Team (Round 2).
  • SWH monitoring, Waitakere City – Twelve month monitoring of ten different SWH installations in Waitakere City (Round 2).
  • WEL Networks Ltd, Hamilton – a pilot project of eight SWH installations ‘rented’ to customers from their lines company (Round 2).
  • Mangonui Hotel, Northland – a Solahart SWH installation with gas backup into a 14 room Heritage One hotel. IF Project owner: Apex Plumbing Ltd (Round 2).
  • Waipara Boys Brigade Camp, Christchurch – A Sunshine Solar SWH installation onto various buildings at the Waipara Boys Brigade Camp. IF Project owner: Advanced Solar Technologies Ltd (Round 1).
  • HPWHs installed and monitored in three residential locations in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Stiebel Eltron systems installed. IF Project owner: Parex Industries Ltd (Round 1).
  • Belle Bonne Motel, Christchurch - installation of a leased Sunshine Solar SWH system into a motel in Christchurch. The financing model with be compared with the system installed at Arthur’s Court Motel (above). IF Project owner: Advanced Solar Technologies Ltd (Round 1).
  • Autolodge Paihia, Bay of Islands – a Beacon SWH installation onto two large hotel blocks which include guest rooms, laundry, kitchen, restaurant and bar. (Round 1).
  • Boarding Schools, Christchurch – HPWH installations into six Christchurch boarding schools. IF Project owner: Climate Zone Ltd (Round 1).

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