Glen Innes Arts Centre to be powered by the sun

Glen Innes residents can now enjoy creating masterpieces in a community space powered by the sun, after solarcity, New Zealand’s leading solar power company today flicked the switch to turn on one of New Zealand’s largest community rooftop solar systems at the new Te Oro Music and Arts Centre.

The new 68kW solar system is made up of 256 solar panels and is expected to generate approximately 15 percent of Te Oro’s power needs.

The canopy-mounted system has been installed across the past three months on the centre’s new high tech roof and is expected to save Te Oro an estimated $350,000 on energy costs across the next 25 years.

The 68kW solar system is part of the Council’s long-term plan to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. Te Oro’s solar power system is expected to reduce its emissions by 17 tonnes of CO2 per annum, the equivalent 58 return trips from Auckland to Invercargill.

“solarcity is happy to have been selected to engineer and install a commercial solar system, which powers a site so vital to the arts and environmental community in Glen Innes,” says Andrew Booth, founder and CEO of solarcity. “We are the last generation that can stop climate change, and it’s great to see the Auckland City Council and the Maungakiekie-Tamaki Local Board leading the way to a renewable energy future in New Zealand.”

The new Te Oro performing Music and Arts Centre will teach children the importance of performing arts, with programmes such as Cook Island Dance and Music already scheduled.

Go to teoro.org.nz for information on booking activities or hiring spaces.