Solarcity appoints ex-Vector manager as energy head

Solarcity has appointed manager Gareth Williams as head of energy services and simultaneously launched a new service to provide an alternative way to build virtual and utility-scale solar power plants.

The company is now able to manage the entire process from financing and design to installation, advanced controls and optimisation, and system maintenance.

Using solar energy typically costs far less than building traditional generation and network assets, and solar energy rates are locked in for future years, protecting local councils and customers from electricity price increases.

Solarcity, through its partnership with Panasonic, is also offering dispatchable storage to ‘intelligently’ take advantage of affordable solar power when it is needed most.

Together, distributed solar and storage can help utilities manage peak load and provide services to customers more cost effectively than traditional fossil fuel-based and centralised solutions. It also helps local councils build resilience across communities, which is of particular importance in cities like Wellington.

“In partnership with solarcity we recently launched the nation’s first affordable solar battery programme in Wellington alongside the city council,” said chief executive of Panasonic New Zealand Stewart Fowler.

“Solarcity’s rapidly increasing solar-battery portfolio is already providing grid services such as dynamic capacity and peak shaving, flexible ramping, grid visibility and more, all managed through Panasonic and solarcity’s software and control platform.”

Previously Williams was responsible for the development of Vector strategies to manage the impact of new technologies, the development of ‘behind the meter’ energy services and unregulated revenue for lines companies as Vector’s strategic solutions group manager.

Williams role at solarcity will extend its current initiatives with Transpower’s on-demand response programme as well as building on knowledge gained from joint ventures and partnerships with Meridian and Genesis, says solarcity chief executive Andrew Booth.

“Gareth is a visionary executive, and he’s incredibly passionate about climate change and creating the new energy strategies that will help shape a low carbon economy for our nation,” says Booth.

He adds that solarcity has built and designed some of largest solar systems in the Pacific as well as installing more solar systems on homes and businesses than any other company in New Zealand.