Friday 16 March 2018

Vector Lights energy system and public artwork officially unveiled

Energy and Resources Minister Megan Woods has officially opened the Vector Lights energy system, saying the solar powered light display points the way to a 100% renewable energy future.

Opening the battery compound, which stores energy from over 200 solar panels in Auckland's Wynyard Quarter, Dr Woods said the ability to achieve an ambitious national target of 100% renewable electricity generation by 2035 was key to the Government's wider goal of a carbon zero New Zealand by 2050.

Energy technology such as that showcased by Vector Lights was central to adapting all generation to renewable within the target timeframe.

Vector CEO Simon Mackenzie said the main reason Vector became involved in the project to light Auckland Harbour Bridge was to create an evolving showcase of renewable energy technology, including solar, battery storage and peer-to-peer matching of demand and capacity.

The battery system is housed at Silo Park in Wynyard Quarter, and is approximately the size of a shipping container. As this is a permanent installation, local artist Erin Forsyth was commissioned to create an artwork wrapping around three sides of the structure. Drawing on her strong interest in environmental conservation, Forsyth has painted a stunning representation of New Zealand wildlife.

“To tell the story of clean energy I wanted to explore the interconnectedness of mankind and the natural world using scale and composition to blur the distinction between land and sea, fact and fiction,” she says.

Vector Lights on Auckland Harbour Bridge is a smart energy partnership between Vector and Auckland Council.

About the energy system

Vector Lights energy system consists of:

248 solar panels situated on top of restaurants at North Wharf in the Wynyard Quarter
A shipping container-sized battery storage system in the Silo Park carpark, stores the solar energy - enough to power 400 homes for an hour.
Smart meters at the battery and the bridge, using peer-to-peer technology to match the release of energy from the battery to use on the bridge
An online dashboard showing the level of solar charging and battery storage in real time, at vector.co.nz/live

Vector Lights events

Coming events include:

St Patrick’s Day: 17 March
Pasifika Festival: 22 – 28 March
Anzac Day/Poppy Day: from 20 April

ends

© Scoop Media