New Zealand: Energy
Former oil executive joins EPA board
30 May 2014
The latest member appointed to the Environmental Protection Authority has background in the oil and gas industry.
Methane hydtrates are a whole new world
23 May 2014
Last year, Japanese scientists announced they had for the first time extracted gas from offshore deposits of methane hydrate, an ice-like substance made of natural gas trapped inside water crystals.
New-look energy system catches the wind
16 May 2014
A new wind power generation system is so safe it can be built alongside existing city buildings, reducing power transportation costs, its American developer says.
Coal use spiking climate mitigation costs
16 May 2014
The global cost of pegging global warming to 2deg has risen by $8 trillion in the past two years, due to soaring coal use which has eclipsed the roll-out of renewable energies, says a new report.
Can we harness the might of magma?
16 May 2014
Can enormous heat deep in the earth be harnessed to provide energy for us on the surface? A promising report from a geothermal borehole project that accidentally struck magma – the same fiery, molten rock that spews from volcanoes – suggests it could.
Businesses keen on solar, but need official help
9 May 2014
Businesses are about to install enough solar panels on their roofs to generate 5.5 megawatts of electricity – the equivalent of a small hydro power station.
Southland gets nod for wood-fuel hub
9 May 2014
Southland is to become a supply hub for a wood-fuel industry, it has just been announced.
Air NZ aims high with solar power programme
9 May 2014
Air New Zealand will install the largest single solar array in New Zealand at its Auckland Technical Operations base later this month.
Europe reports fall in CO2 emissions from energy use
9 May 2014
The carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combustion decreased by 2.5 per cent across the European Union last year, according to early estimates published this week.
It’s here … all-weather solar power (even at night)
2 May 2014
With the help of some clever engineering, the power of the Sun can now keep electricity turbines running however cloudy it may be, both night and day.
Science aims to cut brown coal emissions by 50%
2 May 2014
Australian scientists plan to conduct a $A1 million trial with the aim of reducing emissions from brown coal-generated electricity by 50 per cent compared to current technology.
Charge raises questions about 'clean coal' method
2 May 2014
Recent news that a gas project in Queensland has been charged with environmental harm has put the spotlight on underground coal gasification, or UCG.
LEDs light the path for bulb sales
2 May 2014
Philips Lighting says that its latest market data shows uptake of LED lighting continues to increase.
Householders doing their bit in Australia
24 Apr 2014
The latest review of Australia’s energy-saving appliance scheme has delivered a rare trifecta: a good news story for the economy, the community and the environment.
The energy revolution is jammed in reverse
24 Apr 2014
Keeping the rise in global average temperatures to no more than 2°C above pre-industrial levels will not be prohibitively expensive, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says, though it won't be easy.
Alpha Coal ruling breaks new ground for mining
11 Apr 2014
By MATHEW CURRELL.- This week's court ruling on the future of the $A6.4 billion Alpha coal project in Queensland - set to be one of the biggest coal mines in the world - is of major significance for how mining projects are assessed in Australia.
UN to promote sustainable energy for all
11 Apr 2014
The United Nations has launched the Decade of Sustainable Energy for All, an initiative aimed at promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency worldwide
Let's get together, says UK energy expert
21 Mar 2014
Huge potential exists for New Zealand and Britain to collaborate on the science and technology of renewable energies, says the British Foreign Office chief scientific adviser.
Power emissions down for quarter
21 Mar 2014
New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions from electricity are at a 17-year low.
BP urges progress on global carbon price
21 Mar 2014
By ED KING .- Oil giant BP says regional and national carbon pricing policies are likely to be the best way to tackle climate change.
Minister names forum members
21 Mar 2014
The Government has named the members of its Smart Grid Forum.
MP wants power deal for Stewart Island
14 Mar 2014
New Zealand First is calling for a new source of power for Stewart Island.
Norway pumps pension money into renewables
14 Mar 2014
Norway's decision to use its massive wealth fund to invest in renewable energy projects sends a powerful message to other international investors, says an organisation campaigning for large-scale investment in the sector.
What do we do with the byproducts of fracking?
7 Mar 2014
Technology isn’t ready to clean up fracking’s radioactive legacy. By ALAN HERBERT, senior lecturer in radioactive waste disposal and remediation at the University of Birmingham, and TREVOR JONES, visiting lecturer in nuclear decommissioning and radioactive waste management at the University of Birmingham.
Lawmakers get 'pragmatic' about off-shore drilling
28 Feb 2014
The Government has decided that exploratory oil and gas wells at sea should be non-notified activities, a move it calls “pragmatic”.
Grass above, kids below mark country's 100th sustainable building
28 Feb 2014
A Northland childcare centre with a grass roof, a Christchurch medical centre and a Tauranga office building with an innovative ventilation system are marking a milestone in New Zealand’s sustainable buildings.
Sydney emissions cuts plan hits the roof
28 Feb 2014
Sydney wants to put a trigeneration plant on the roof of its town hall as part of a drive to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 70 per cent by 2030.
Think green, builders urge Christchurch
21 Feb 2014
New commercial buildings in Christchurch must be designed for energy efficiency if they aren’t to become obsolete, says the Green Building Council.
Solar plants bring fresh water to Vanuatu
14 Feb 2014
A solar energy plant designed by a New Zealand company is about to provide 11,000 Vanuatu residents with fresh water.
Nuclear waste disposal gets expensive
14 Feb 2014
When countries embrace nuclear power to combat climate change the problem of disposing of the radioactive waste seems far away, but the costs will be enormous. PAUL BROWN reports:
Scrap offshore oil rules, says watchdog group
7 Feb 2014
The Environmental Defence Society is calling for the Government's new rules on offshore oil and gas operations to be scrapped.
Turbine tower installers eye windfall
7 Feb 2014
The wind turbine towers market is expected to be worth $US19.3 billion by 2020.
Engineers claim solar cell breakthrough
7 Feb 2014
California engineers have invented a new process for manufacturing highly efficient photovoltaic materials that shows promise for low-cost industrial production.
Major powerco sets pace for fall in emissions
31 Jan 2014
New Zealand's greenhouse-gas emissions from energy have fallen on the back of a massive cut from our single largest emitter.
All power to Scottish tides, say engineers
31 Jan 2014
Renewable tidal energy sufficient to power about half of Scotland could be harnessed from a single stretch of water off the north coast of the country, engineers say.
Database updates how we use energy
24 Jan 2014
An updated picture of how New Zealanders use energy is now available, showing where and how energy is used and a snapshot of how energy use is changing.
So, if the carbon tax isn't working, what is?
24 Jan 2014
Melbourne Energy Institute director MIKE SANDIFORD asks the Abbott Government to explain:
China tops wind turbine installations
24 Jan 2014
China will remain the leading global consumer of wind turbine rotor blades over the coming years, a new international report says.
Fuels emissions levels show increase
20 Dec 2013
New Zealand's emissions from liquid fuels rose over the September quarter, latest figures show.
Sydney set to paint the town ... green
13 Dec 2013
Green thumbs across Sydney are being encouraged to reach for the sky under the City of Sydney’s new green roofs and walls policy.
Govt has way to aid clean-tech pioneers, says Labour
6 Dec 2013
The Government could use its buying power to support New Zealand’s clean-tech pioneers, the Labour Party says.
Wind industry wants gas turned down
6 Dec 2013
The wind energy industry is calling for New Zealand’s baseload gas-fired generation to be retired to converted to peaker plants.
Stationary fuel cell market set to boom
6 Dec 2013
The stationary fuel cell market is forecast to show massive growth, climbing from $390m in 2012 to $7.52 billion by 2020, a new report shows.
Future bright for small-wind power, says study
29 Nov 2013
The small-wind power market is expected to increase massively, from $609m in 2012 to $3 billion by 2020, says a new report.
Australia to ease environment path for drillers
29 Nov 2013
The Australian Government has made progress on establishing a one-stop-shop environmental approval process for offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas storage activities with the release of two draft reports for public comment.
NZI Centre wins top sustainability rating
29 Nov 2013
Auckland’s NZI Centre has been awarded a five-star ‘market leading’ base building Certified Rating for energy use under NABERSNZTM, the office building energy rating scheme.
EXCLUSIVE: Biofuels pioneer wants to go into production with refinery in NZ
22 Nov 2013
A New Zealand second generation-biofuels company is in the market for funding to build a refinery.
More and more Aussie offices going green
22 Nov 2013
Australia's CitySwitch Green Office programme has topped two million square metres.
How Australia deals with carbon and electricity
22 Nov 2013
Westpac's head of electricity trading, CONNELL BURKE, explains the links between carbon and electricity in the Australian market:
CCS will be big, say energy leaders
15 Nov 2013
Carbon capture and storage will be a major part of plans to combat climate change, say the world’s energy and environment ministers.
Govt overhaul leaves the door open for coal mining on conservation land
Fri 12 Dec 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | The Government’s sweeping reclassification of thousands of hectares of publicly-owned conservation land has met with sharp criticism, with environmental groups saying the decision leaves vulnerable ecosystems exposed to mining and development.
Govt warned that scrapping ag emission pricing comes with risks
Thu 11 Dec 2025
By Liz Kivi | The Government’s move to halt plans for agricultural emissions pricing without replacing it with any other action will leave New Zealand facing a bigger gap to meet its third emissions budget, Environment ministry officials have warned.
Transport dominates NZ’s rising consumer emissions
Wed 10 Dec 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Transport pollution was the biggest contributor to an increase in New Zealand’s consumption-based emissions in 2023, with emissions from household travel up 12%, and consumption-based emissions totalling 58.3 million tonnes – up 1.6% from the previous year.
Christchurch Airport boasts world-first liquid-hydrogen refuelling for test aircraft
30 Oct 2025
By Liz Kivi | Local companies working on hydrogen-electric flight have made ‘a significant step forward’ in successfully filling aviation tanks with liquid hydrogen produced and stored on-site at an international airport for the first time.
Uncertainty eroding confidence in forestry sector
5 Dec 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Warnings are mounting that tree planting is set to plunge to “very close to zero”, as new Ministry for Primary Industries data shows ETS registration applications falling sharply as confidence in forestry declines.
Investors must support positive climate-tech
28 Nov 2025
OPINION: We need better leadership than the current ‘climate opportunism’ that is rife in the Beehive, and we need to back a marketplace that will make it happen, writes Rob Campbell.
