The massive network outages across Queensland on Tuesday afternoon triggered by an explosion and fire at the Callide coal plant have raised the question of whether more grid-scale big battery storage on the National Electricity Market could have changed the outcome.

Press Release - For Immediate Use

SEANZ group members collaborate with Māori housing providers in innovative trials to reduce energy hardship and lower emissions

Auckland, 26 May 2021 - The Sustainable Energy Association NZ (SEANZ) welcomes the announcement today of the $2.8m funding for selected projects to trial distributed renewable energy solutions on Māori housing by Hon Dr Megan Woods, Minister of Energy and Resources and Minister of Housing; and Hon Peeni Henare, Associate Minister of Māori Housing.

SEANZ Chair Brendan Winitana says: “it is great to see the potential of solar, batteries, and energy-sharing technologies being realised to help reduce energy hardship and provide sustainable energy solutions.

We commend the Ministers for funding these trials which will have a real impact on communities in hardship but also provide a blueprint for how all New Zealanders can enjoy low-cost renewable energy”.

Projects such as a community micro-grid, which includes solar and battery storage system distributing energy to whānau homes on the papakāinga and peer to peer energy sharing to homes further afield have received funding and will be implemented in collaboration with many SEANZ group members.

The $2.8m in funding is the first round in a total of around $14 million for renewable energy projects for Māori housing over the next four years. SEANZ expects its members will play a central role in projects funded in the remainder of the Initiative plus the approximately $14 million that has also been committed to funding renewable energy projects on public housing.

“Solar, batteries, and energy-sharing platforms will play a key role in powering our homes and our businesses into the future and SEANZ looks forward to working alongside the government and housing providers to help hasten the transition to our sustainable energy future,” says Mr Winitana.

ENDS

For further information contact:
SEANZ Communications Manager
Kristin Gillies
021 065 8460

SEANZ invites nominations for the SEANZ Industry Awards in the categories detailed below.

We thank Fronius for their continued support as the sponsor of the Industry Awards for 2021.

Solar and wind potential is far higher than that of fossil fuels and can meet global energy demand many times over, unlocking huge benefits for society.

As New Zealand transitions to a low-carbon economy, the electricity sector will play an important role by allowing other sectors (notably heat and transport) to electrify and reduce carbon emissions.

Wednesday, 28 April 2021, 8:54 am
Press Release: GHD

A new global survey by GHD, one of the world’s leading professional services companies, has highlighted how changing attitudes and behaviours could shape the world of energy as we emerge from the global pandemic.

Low-cost and reliable energy supplies are critical to a modern economy’s success. As we embark on de-carbonisation, Aotearoa would reap significant benefits from a 30-year national energy strategy that is well thought through and leverages the advantages of our highly renewable electricity system.

Australian households led the installation of more than 31,000 battery energy storage systems around the country in 2020, a 20 per cent jump on total numbers in 2019, despite – or perhaps because of – the impact of Covid-19.

These are questions worth asking because of where microgrids sit in the renewable energy generation equation. It is acknowledged that alternative renewable generation is needed to meet electricity demands that continue to grow - a recently released, Transpower-commissioned report predicts electricity demand in New Zealand will double by 2050. Added to that is the fact that microgrids being trialled in New Zealand tend to be solar powered and solar, it appears, is king. In 2017 solar became the leading form of new utility energy generation in the world. Energy sources, other than solar, can feed microgrids. For example, wind turbines, mini and micro hydro, biogas, bio mass can all be part of the microgrid energy generation picture, but the reality is that solar and batteries are utilised in the vast majority of microgrids around the world.

15 March 2021

Improving visibility helps networks prepare for megashifts in electricity