New Zealand has slipped two places in this year’s Energy Trilemma Index, which rates countries on how they achieve a balance of security, sustainability, and equity in their energy systems. But, at 10th out of 128 countries, New Zealand remained the highest-ranked non-European nation.

In the energy system there are significant risks, but thanks to a comprehensive tool that ranks countries on their ability to provide sustainable, affordable and secure energy, we get a hint as to what actions are needed to mitigate any danger and to seize any opportunity they present.

Energy infrastructure assets are designed and built to last for decades. These assets do not exist and function in a vacuum. It is only natural that changes in technology, business models, and government policies will occur over their lifetime. Previously, these changes were simply an evolution of the existing mode of producing, delivering and consuming energy. What is happening today in the energy world is a paradigm shift, characterized by new values of sustainability, flexibility and affordability, enabled by a completely new way of producing, delivering, and consuming energy.

In 2018, Transpower established a consumer advisory panel representing a diverse cross-section of New Zealand’s electricity consumers, as a forum for regular, long-term dialogue. The Panel provides advice and input to Transpower about consumers’ needs and perspectives, and engages in two-way dialogue on emerging sector issues. Transpower uses the panel’s advice and insights to better inform its business planning and decision making.

Sunshine Solar has worked closely with YHA New Zealand in recent years to help the accommodation provider achieve carboNZero certification. The partnership has already resulted in carbon reduction across four hostels of about 81 tonnes of CO2 equivalent, with more savings identified. Sunshine Solar has so far worked with YHA on projects at its hostels in Franz Josef, Auckland, Wellington, and Aoraki/Mt Cook, with more audits and system upgrades planned.

We are delighted to tell you that we have bid to host the 2021 World Energy Week here in Wellington. We will be competing against the World Energy Council (WEC) member committee from Kazakhstan. The voting process for all WEC member committees will open on 8 August and will close at the Executive Assembly plenary at the World Energy Congress in Abu Dhabi on 8 September. If successful, we will host one of the biggest Energy Conference from 1 to 4 November 2021.

Hydrogen and fuel cell technologies have experienced cycles of high expectations followed by impractical realities. This time around, however, falling renewable energy and fuel cell prices, stringent climate change requirements and the discrete involvement of China are step changes. The combination of these factors is leading to realistic potential for hydrogen’s role in the Grand Transition.

We have listened to the views of New Zealanders, analysed information and looked at successful approaches to climate change legislation around the world.

The country’s new energy research centre should focus on barriers to commercial development of technology, BusinessNZ Energy Council executive director John Carnegie says. Policy and regulation could restrict the viability of some emerging technologies and the centre should work to identify those impediments.