Irish renewable energy company Surface Power has signed a NZ$30 million ($18 million) deal with a local distribution firm for its solar hot water systems.

Under the five-year deal, New Zealand Solar Distribution will distribute Surface Power’s solar hot water heating and cooling systems across the country.

Surface Power, established in 2003 in County Mayo in Ireland, earlier announced a €20-million ($28 million) distribution deal within its home country for what it claims to be the world’s “most efficient” solar hot water panel.

After announcing the distribution deal, Surface Power said it will also set up a national distribution and training center in Tauranga, New Zealand to provide advanced training options for solar hot water system installers.

Drew Beekie, New Zealand Solar Distribution CEO, said Surface Power’s solar hot water system was chosen for its better performance in cloud, wind, and rain environments based on tests.

“We need systems that work all year round. We also need to work with companies whose research is at the forefront of developing new uses for solar thermal in cooling and water purification,” Beekie said.

Aside from solar hot water systems, Surface Power also targets export markets in the solar and wind sectors.

Typical solar hot water systems use a solar collector that heats water and stores it in a tank for later use.


-  Eric Dorente

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¹ http://www.surfacepower.ie/pdf/NZD30m.pdf