INNOVATION IN ENERGY AWARD FINALIST: Transpower drones enhancing surveys
2 May 2022Transpower says its new drone-based system for assessing the condition of conductor has enabled it to save about $70 million by deferring the replacement of 120 kilometres of line. Those savings in the current regulatory period indicate a further 155 kilometres of reconductoring can be safely deferred in the next regulatory period, delivering further benefits to New Zealand consumers by spreading that replacement cost over a longer period.
Read more →
COMMUNITY INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR AWARDS FINALIST: Genesis STEM pathways for rangatahi
28 Apr 2022Genesis believes access to education and training is a key determinant of a person's future social and economic wellbeing. It also believes inspiring young people to become energy innovators will be integral to New Zealand's journey to a lower-carbon future. Genesis wanted to support and facilitate opportunities for young people to flourish and succeed and in July 2020 launched Ngā Ara Creating Pathways, a youth-focused community initiative.
Read more →
LARGE ENERGY USER AWARD FINALIST: Auckland Transport - street light switch saves energy
26 Apr 2022In 2014, Auckland Transport committed to changing all the city's streetlights from high-intensity discharge to light-emitting diode - a move that would not just cut energy consumption and costs, but would also improve safety and reduce emissions and maintenance. A retrofitting programme began the following year on the network's then 106,000 lights. This project is on target to achieve its initial milestone completion date of 2023.
Read more →
COMMUNITY INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR AWARD FINALIST: Aurora Energy – Harbour Crossing project
22 Apr 2022Aurora Energy collaborated with a wide range of community groups and stakeholders to provide a reliable and an enhanced electricity supply to the residents of Otago Peninsula. Six lattice towers and 1.85 kilometres of overhead conductor had been in place since 1957, supplemented by a submarine cable installed in 1947. Aurora needed to replace the ageing infrastructure to ensure ongoing reliability, resilience and capacity, whilst working with the community to deliver the best outcomes and ensure minimal disruption during construction. Development
Read more →
NZ Energy Excellence Awards finalists announced
20 Apr 2022The 12th New Zealand Energy Excellence Awards feature an outstanding cohort of finalists in nine categories. These awards recognise best practice in the country's energy sector, celebrating the industry's important contribution to society and the economy. The sector has had a busy and demanding year, managing the business and health risks of Covid-19, yet organisations have made the time to put together high-quality entries.
Read more →
Ara Ake supporting the transition to a low emissions energy future for Aotearoa New Zealand
31 Mar 2022Ara Ake. Two small words that combined mean new pathways, a journey forward - most simply, onwards and upwards. And that sentiment is at the heart of what Ara Ake does as New Zealand's Future Energy Centre. New Zealand is on a journey of energy innovation; a journey to decarbonise our nation so we can begin to realise the environmental, social and economic benefits of doing so. But great journeys don't come without challenges. Ara Ake tackles those challenges head-on and helps find commercial solutions to them.
Read more →
Delivering a more sustainable world in New Zealand
21 Mar 2022Did you know the Pohokura gas field, 4 km offshore of north Taranaki, supplies around 40 per cent of New Zealand's natural gas? As the New Zealand energy sector focuses on transitioning to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, there will still be a reliance on traditional forms of energy. Lowering the carbon footprint of these through decarbonisation technologies will be critical.
Read more →
Customer focus delivers results
17 Mar 2022Flick Electric won the Consumer NZ Energy Retailer of the Year Award at the 2021 Energy Excellence Awards. Consumer NZ's annual satisfaction survey marked Flick as significantly above the industry average in many key areas and described its off-peak plan, innovative online tools and tree planting incentive as impressive.
Read more →
Smart measurement for the NZ energy ecosystem
14 Mar 2022It is fairly common knowledge that New Zealand is a world leader in green technologies and smarter use of energy. But fewer people know that New Zealand also leads the world in delivering more choice to consumers in the way that they use their energy. Over the last decade and more, New Zealand utilities, in partnership with the Energy Authority have evolved an energy ecosystem that delivers greener, more sustainable and more affordable energy through delivering consumers more choice and control in the way they use their energy.
Read more →
Electricity Authority improving consumer outcomes
4 Mar 2022When consumers are well informed, they are empowered to make good choices. The Electricity Authority has recently focused on supporting consumer understanding of the system and how they can get advice. The rules changed in 2021, requiring all retailers and distributors to provide clear information about Utilities Disputes and Powerswitch. This has led to an increase in the use of these free and independent services.
Read more →