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.

The Government’s climate change policy is a major source of uncertainty for the country’s energy sector executives, according to a recent survey. Climate framework moved from medium to high uncertainty in a survey of local executives for the New Zealand chapter of this year’s World Energy Issues Monitor.

The sixth annual New Zealand Energy Issues Map below shows energy executives grappling with the potential of hydrogen fuel, along with economic issues including New Zealand’s emerging climate framework. The issues map identifies hydrogen as one of this year’s fastest-moving energy issues.

Energy issues to keep an eye on in 2019

The Katowice Rulebook has been agreed! A successful outcome! The interests of the climate have prevailed over national self-interest! The UN has already claimed a new era of global climate action has begun. Governments, the UN claims, have adopted a robust set of guidelines for implementing the landmark 2015 Paris Climate Change Agreement, the implementation of which will benefit people from all walks of life, especially the most vulnerable.

Transpower's newly convened consumer advisory panel is a unique tool that will help the national grid operator shape the energy future, according to a panel member.

New Zealand has gained one place moving to 8th in the latest global ranking of national energy performance by the World Energy Trilemma Index.

The BusinessNZ Energy Council has welcomed MBIE’s review of the New Zealand electricity sector. BEC Chair David Caygill says the review broadly shows that the sector is a reliable producer of competitively delivered electricity with the ability to meet increased demand in the future.

A hydrogen ecosystem could harness the skills of both the country's petroleum and renewable energy sectors, Hiringa Energy chief executive Andrew Clennett says. Clennett says the country's integrated economy - with interconnected gas and power networks and abundant natural resources - combined with a culture of innovation means New Zealand is well-placed to commercialise hydrogen. "We're a wonderful microcosm of an OECD country. We've got all the bits and they're all connected. We've got the gas networks, we've got the power networks, we've got the renewable energy sources."