Solid Energy Enters Solar Market With Consultancy

Solid Energy enters solar market with energy consultancy

Solid Energy has expanded its renewables portfolio with the acquisition of a solar heating specialist, Sensible Heat. This will form the basis of a new business and consultancy service, Switch.

Switch will supply equipment, provide advice and design integrated heating systems for homes, businesses, schools and other public buildings.

In acquiring Sensible Heat, a private company based in Nelson and owned by Matt and Nadienne Cookson, Switch has the exclusive New Zealand agency for Apricus solar collectors, controllers and associated equipment.

The business also has a nationwide distribution network of agents who install and support its solar heating products. Mr Cookson becomes the General Manager of Switch.

As well as Apricus solar products, Switch has the New Zealand agency for the German-made HDG-Bavaria wood pellet boilers and is evaluating other products to assess their suitability for New Zealand conditions

Andy Matheson, Solid Energy's General Manager of Energy Developments, says Switch complements the work of its established wood pellet business, Nature's Flame, which has been experiencing very strong growth in integrated systems in recent years, moving into the installation of wood pellet boilers in schools and commercial premises

"Solid Energy and Nature's Flame have conducted a substantial amount of research and development around heating for residential, commercial and small industrial uses and we aim to make that expertise more widely available through Switch," Mr Matheson says.

"Having a strong installer network and also offering top-of-the-line solar and central heating equipment makes Switch's offer very compelling.

"For home buyers and new home builders, the way a property is heated and how well it is heated is becoming more and more important. Many home owners today see this as fundamental to future-proofing their property's value. At the same time, there is a wide variety in both the type and quality of systems now being offered and a real lack of good information about how, and whether, different elements can be integrated.

"The people at Switch can look at a situation and advise on the best solution, and customers can be confident that the different elements will perform well together," Mr Matheson says.

The Switch website, including information about its installer network, products and services, goes live today at www.switchenergy.co.nz

Switch plans to open a showroom in Christchurch later this year.

ENDS

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