Innovation Fund for Solar Water Heating

In 2007, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) launched an Innovation Fund to encourage smart innovations that will lead to the uptake of solar water heating and heat pump water heating technologies. Under this fund EECA has contributed up to 50% of the cost of an approved project, with a maximum grant of NZD100,000. Funds were allocated in three contestable rounds. Projects fell under one of three categories: 1) Solar water heating projects that resulted in the installation of a large number of solar water heating systems, or provide industry information to support commercial decision-making; or 2) heat pump water heating projects (mostly air-source, but also ground-source) that encouraged uptake or to gather information and performance data on the technology towards further this developing industry; or 3) Other innovative projects to demonstrate original approaches to improving solar water heating or heat pump water heating technology and uptake. The Fund also targeted industry training, research and development, experimental route-to-market initiatives, etc. The Innovation Fund is part of the progressive roll-out of the New Zealand governments NZD15.5 million solar water heating programme. It forms part of its broad approach to promoting sustainability, energy efficiency and renewable sources of energy.

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