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Council releases new Scenario Foundations

The recent Covid-19 pandemic, ongoing wars, geopolitical realignments, the rise of AI, and the consequences of severe, climate-change-related weather events have all profoundly affected the global economy and global energy system resulting in a more fractured world that has to be assumed in all scenarios. The recently released World Energy Scenario Foundations 2024 explore two different key modes of cooperation that could emerge from the fragmentation, with strong consequences for the future. Read more...

Australia's budget

Australia’s new budget is out, and it’s a game-changer for energy, with $22.7 billion set aside for renewables. So how might the AUS announcement impact on New Zealand's energy landscape? The focus on renewable hydrogen, backed by an $8 billion funding presents a potential cross-Tasman collaboration opportunity which could be the catalyst for New Zealand to enhance its clean energy capabilities and infrastructure. Read more...

IRENA report

A new IRENA report titled “Geopolitics of the Energy Transformation: Energy Security” explores the global energy system’s transformation and its implications for energy security, cautioning against applying conventional energy security approaches from the fossil fuel era. It proposes a multi-dimensional energy security concept that prioritises human and planetary well-being. The report emphasises demand response, flexibility, infrastructure resilience, resilient technology supply chains, and human and ecosystem security as key factors for a secure and sustainable global energy transition. Read more...

Coal's Australian reprieve

Eraring, the country’s largest power plant, burns through as much as 6 million tons of the fossil fuel annually and had been due to close as soon as August next year. Last week, those plans were scrapped — instead, it will operate until at least 2027. Part of the issue is a slowdown in spending on clean energy projects as developers struggle with rising costs, lengthy approval processes and grid constraints.at least 2027. Read more...

Submissions

BEC has drafted its response to MfE's annual updates to the NZ ETS limits and price control settings for units 2024. The draft is currently in the feedback process with members. Find more on BEC submissions here...

Global Energy Report echoes issues at home

Global data reveals urgent investment is required across the energy sector, as well as greater collaboration around the world.  The World Energy Issues Monitor 2024 captures the perspectives of almost 1,800 energy leaders from more than 100 countries, providing a snapshot and insights of the global energy landscape. The report demonstrates how global energy issues are echoed here at the national level. Read more...

Consultation on electricity transmission and distribution revenue limits

The Commerce Commission is proposing to allow increased revenue limits for both Transpower and local lines companies in order to help pay for necessary investment in the country's electricity network. To soften the initial price rises for consumers, the Commission is also proposing that some of the revenue is recovered more slowly. Consultation takes place across June and early July before final decisions are made in November. Read more...

The FlexTalk project

The FlexTalk project made the recommendation that the electricity sector adopt a standardised protocol for communication and data exchange to address challenges in achieving widespread engagement in demand flexibility. The joint project by the EEA and EECA has published its final industry report, along with a technical insights document. Currently, only two internationally recognised communication protocols – OpenADR and IEEE 2030.5 – fulfil this criteria. Read more...

BraveTrace certifies landmark sustainable energy collaboration

Total Utilities has taken a pioneering step towards fostering sustainable energy by spearheading the landmark collaboration between Manawa Energy and Southern Spars, an iconic New Zealand company known for its cutting-edge marine spars and rigging. BraveTrace validates that the electricity consumed by Southern Spars is accurately matched and verified against the renewable electricity produced by Manawa Energy. Read more...

EV figures down

Monthly figures show total light passenger vehicle registrations were down 10% in April. EV registrations comprised 7.64% of new light passenger cars, down from 27.19% for all of 2023. There are now 104,574 EVs on the roads. EECA has published a list of approved EV smart chargers recommended for residential and commercial use, estimating smart chargers could save NZ about $4 billion in grid infrastructure costs. Read more...

Meridian and NZAS sign long term contracts

Meridian and New Zealand's Aluminium Smelter have signed contracts to provide a significant amount of the electricity cover it needs, and to lock in its operations for another 20 years. It’s a fantastic outcome for Southland and the NZ economy. The contracts include significant demand response agreements, which will be valuable when the hydro lakes are low, and will support New Zealand’s electricity system to become even more renewable. Read more...

Major project reduces emissions at Motunui

Methanex have recently completed an efficiency project for each of their two distillation columns at Motunui. By incorporating advanced technology into the distillation process, we have increased our distillation capacity for these two columns, avoiding the need for a third column, and thereby avoiding up to 50,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year, the equivalent of taking 20,000 cars off the road. Read more in their newsletter.

No concerns about LPG supply in New Zealand

As concerns mount around New Zealand’s natural gas supply, chief executive of Liquigas, Albert de Geest, says LPG is readily available internationally and more could be easily imported as necessary. Read more in GasX...