The BusinessNZ Energy Council (BEC) hosted James shaw at their lunchtime seminar series, 1st August 2019

On September 9th the 24th World Energy Congress kicked off in Abu Dhabi under the theme “energy for prosperity”. The congress entailed a four-day interactive programme where delegates attended plenary sessions, panel discussions, debates and workshops, centred around the critical issues currently faced by the energy industry.

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.