Kiwi Property’s solar array at Sylvia Park exceeds expectations, producing year-round energy
New Zealand’s largest solar array installation atop Auckland’s premier retail destination, Sylvia Park, has exceeded
expectations on its first anniversary since installation.
In just over 12 months, Kiwi Property’s installation – which comprises 1,134 panels covering 3,000 sqm (equivalent to 12
tennis courts) – has produced enough energy to supply 62 homes for a year.
Jason Happy, National Facilities Manager for Sylvia Park’s owner, Kiwi Property, said: “Our solar array project at
Sylvia Park has been a great success. One year on, the electricity supplied by our solar array has provided almost 20%
of the base building energy needs of Sylvia Park. We’ve exceeded expectations with year-round productivity; the three
months of winter delivered a surprising 18% of annual energy produced.”
“The energy produced means we have reduced our annual carbon emissions from the centre by 65 tonnes, which is the
equivalent of 15 return flights from Auckland to London per person. We’ve produced over 500,000 kWh of electricity since
the array was switched on, enough to supply 62 homes for a whole year.”
The initiative is part of Kiwi Property’s broader sustainability platform, which has operated successfully for more than
12 years. The programme concentrates on driving positive environmental outcomes and cost efficiencies through
improvements in energy, water and waste outputs. Delivering tangible social benefits to the communities in which it
operates is another important outcome for Kiwi Property.
Sylvia Park is also the first shopping centre in New Zealand to provide free electric vehicle charging stations. The two
stations have had an estimated 670 uses since being made available to shoppers in October 2014.
“We’ve had requests from our customers for even more stations to be installed in the future as a result of strong
demand, with both stations often in use with someone waiting,” Mr Happy said.
“We’ve had a number of customers comment that they have switched shopping to Sylvia Park from other centres because of
the availability of our charging stations.
“For us, we’re meeting our objective of delivering sustainable business practices while also being able to offer our
customers more from their retail experience.”
Mr Happy said sustainability was one of eight guiding principles when Kiwi Property developed Sylvia Park in 2005.
“As a result, from day one the centre included many features that support energy, waste and water minimisation and
biodiversity, and we continue to add to these,” he said.
Mr Happy said Kiwi Property was currently exploring opportunities to install solar arrays at other shopping centres
within its portfolio, as well as a possible extension of the Sylvia Park solar array.
“In the near future, we’re planning to add two more electric car charging stations to Sylvia Park, along with two each
in Northlands, Christchurch, The Plaza in Palmerston North and LynnMall, Auckland, for which we are currently seeking an
energy partner to assist in our roll-out.”
ENDS