Showing the strength of our energy choices.
Ōtaki Energy Pulse
Te Manawataki o te Hiko o Ōtaki
It's good news about solar energy generated by panels
at Ōtaki College and our first-of-its-kind solar farm, Rau Kūmara.
Descriptions below.
1. Lifetime generation
Ōtaki College + Rau Kūmara
LIVE
804
MWh
2. CO2 avoided by using solar power
60
tons
3. Energy equivalents
Houses powered
112
4. Current generation
Ōtaki College
LIVE
5. Energy generated monthly/ annually
Ōtaki College
6. Annual energy
Rau Kūmara Solar Farm
140
MWh
Box 1: 'Lifetime generation' shows the TOTAL amount of solar power generated by Rau Kūmara and our arrays at Ōtaki College since they were built.
Box 2: 'CO2 avoided' tallies how many tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) we’ve therefore ‘saved’ by using clean energy instead of fossil fuel. That's cool, Box 2, but what does that really mean?
Whatever power we can generate locally using renewable sources – like sunshine – is power we don’t have to make by burning fossil fuels. Burning fossil fuel releases carbon dioxide (CO2). This is a major cause of climate change. By disrupting natural systems across the planet, climate change is killing species including ours. So, using only clean energy and reducing how much energy we use are vital changes for us all. Box 2’s calculation estimates how much CO2 we’ve avoided releasing into the atmosphere by using solar power instead fossil fuels power.
Box 3: 'Energy equivalents' translates these tonnes of ‘saved’ C02 into real-world impacts. Box 3 is saying:
"It’s like we’ve turned [this many] houses run on dirty power into houses run on clean power. Basically, we’ve prevented a street’s worth of CO2 emissions contributing to climate change!
It's like saving the CO2 from a forest's worth of trees [growing for at least 25 years]!
It's like driving to the moon and back using an electric car instead of a gas guzzler ...over 5 times!"
Like to live in the now? You will enjoy Box 4: 'Current generation', which shows:
-
the amount of power (in kilowatts) Ōtaki College's panels are generating at this very moment.
-
how much of the panels’ power-making potential is being used. The sunnier it is, and the higher the sun is in the sky, the higher the percentage.
Box 5: 'Energy generated' shows how much solar power Ōtaki College is getting each month, and each year. Power to the pupils!
Box 6: 'Annual energy' shows how much solar power Rau Kūmara is on average generating each year.
Most of this goes right next door to power Ōtaki Wastewater Treatment Plant. That's one more way that we're helping turn 'dirty' into 'clean'.
Using electricity so close to its source also means less power is lost along the lines.
It's clean power + energy efficiency for the win.
Interested in Ōtaki Energy Pulse?
We're building a hub for sharing information and insights
on energy generation and conservation, our carbon footprints and more.
We welcome hearing from you.
