Aotearoa-New Zealand’s Government is embracing green energy with 561 solar panels installed by Sunergise and switched on in January 2023 to power Parliament House.
The solar installation is part of a wider sustainability project being conducted by Parliamentary Services.
Parliamentary Service Chief Executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero says the Parliament House solar installation is vital as New Zealand works toward a net carbon-zero future.
“Making sustainable choices is a priority for us, and this is one way we can work towards our vision of having an environmentally sustainable New Zealand Parliament.”
“These solar panels will reduce the amount of fossil fuels Parliament relies on, which means we can decrease our carbon footprint and impact on the environment.”
Mr Gonzalez-Montero says that screens displaying the panels’ output in real-time have been installed in the Beehive reception.
He adds that placing the panels on the century-old, Category 1 heritage building brought additional challenges for the installers from Sunergise. The array had to meet specific design requirements.
"These solar panels will reduce the amount of fossil fuels Parliament relies on, which means we can decrease our carbon footprint and impact on the environment."
Mr Gonzalez-Montero says the Parliamentary Service Buildings Team worked very closely with Wellington City Council, Heritage New Zealand, and their own architects on the resource consent application for the solar panels.
Sunergise Installation Business Manager James Hogg, who was part of the team on the roof of Parliament House installing the panels, says they worked closely with architects and heritage experts to avoid a visual impact. As a result the solar panels are low-reflective and black-edged and the design ensured the panels align with the existing building profile.
James adds, the case for switching to solar is compelling. “It is not just about saving money – it’s much more. We all must make the changes, however small they may seem. As a collective, we can have a positive impact.”
