Today energy supply is expected to be renewable, affordable and reliable. How do we meet these challenges? What is the future of energy in a low carbon world? We will still need large scale storage, we still need to be able to manufacture chemicals, we still need to be able to economically run heavy transport. Is Power-to-X key to the development of the next energy market generation? Andrew Clennett, the Founder and CEO of Hiringa Energy, shared with us his insights at our BEC lunchtime seminar.

The World Energy Council is currently working on the study “International Aspects for a Power-to-X roadmap” and is reaching out to experts in the field for an interview. Experts are ideally involved in current projects, which produce resource like hydrogen, methane or ammonia and can assess and validate the findings of the study. The study identifies countries, that are attractive locations for conversion technologies and might also have the potential to build up Power-to-X export industries which could help in creating a global market for green energy resources in a future low-carbon world

Evolving from 10 years of success as the Zayed Future Energy Prize, the UAE’s preeminent sustainability Prize undergoes a strategic refocus to become the Zayed Sustainability Prize. In a move to align more closely with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the UAE’s developing national agenda, the Zayed Sustainability Prize has broadened its reach beyond renewable energy. Online submissions close on 9th August 2018.

The Minister of Energy and Resources recently appointed an expert panel of advisors who will provide peer and technical advice to the electricity price review. The review terms of reference is here. BEC believes competitive energy markets are the best means to deliver secure and reliable energy supplies at efficient prices, and that competition works best when barriers to market entry and exit are minimised.

The principle of supplier and technology neutrality is paramount as we consider regulatory changes. Energy systems are complex and interconnected. Government intervention to alter competitive market signals should be undertaken with caution. Policies that allow or force non-competitive outcomes (such as delivering a particular type of generation, technology, resource availability or fuel-type use) will shift investment patterns to the country’s overall detriment.

Unlocking greater consumer choice and participation requires efficient price signals that fully internalise and reflect costs. Without this, innovation cannot hope to deliver the outcomes sought, nor can appropriate investment decisions be made, including how to maintain system security. Consumers benefit most where prices reflect costs and the widest possible competition for new energy products and services is encouraged.

Back to business! 2018 will require all of our energy as we are running a schedule full of projects this year. Amongst other things, together with our members, we will be kicking off a new BEC scenario project, hosting a major international conference and shaping New Zealand's energy agenda.

We are delighted to announce the release of our post-election briefing, setting out key issues that need to be addressed by government and the energy sector. BEC members say they want to participate in active, competitive energy markets that encourage innovation and consumer choice and businesses. But what are the core elements for achieving such positive outcomes while solving the energy trilemma?

We are pleased to welcome Powerco as a new BusinessNZ Energy Council (BEC) member. Powerco is the second-largest gas and largest electricity distributor in NZ. Its network delivers electricity and natural gas to households around the North Island from the national electricity transmission network Transpower and the natural gas transmission system owned and operated by First Gas. The BEC is looking forward to working together with Powerco.

We are delighted to bring you the October edition of the World Energy Focus, this month including New Zealand's shift in its Energy Trilemma balance. Moving away from its traditional focus on energy security of supply, which remains important, New Zealand's key challenge is how to reduce energy sector-wide carbon emissions. BEC2050 Scenarios' work explains how the Kayak and Waka scenarios applied to transport could help define policies to achieve such targets in an uncertain political context following the national election.