New Zealand: Energy
Meridian set to build its first solar farm as Genesis stockpiles coal
2 Apr 2025
Meridian Energy is set to start construction on its 130MW Ruakākā Solar Farm south of Whangārei in August 2025, with the project receiving a final investment decision and construction approval from the Meridian Board.
Hotter and deeper: how NZ’s plan to drill for ‘supercritical’ geothermal energy holds promise and risk
2 Apr 2025
By David Dempsey, University of Canterbury | New Zealand’s North Island features a number of geothermal systems, several of which are used to generate some 1,000 MegaWatts of electricity. But deeper down there may be even more potential.
Contact to appeal Southland wind farm rejection
1 Apr 2025
Contact Energy says it will appeal the Southland Wind Farm consent rejection and reapply under the new Fast-Track consent process.
Is NZ heading towards another energy crunch?
28 Mar 2025
The major gentailers all put forward positive cases at last week’s Downstream conference that they had done all they could to avert a potential energy shortage this winter.
Wind farm rejection will delay Aotearoa’s energy transition
26 Mar 2025
Contact Energy's proposed wind farm in Southland has been rejected, a move the New Zealand Wind Energy Association (NZWEA) says will delay the country's transition to renewable energy.
Energy sector faces complex affordability and security issues
25 Mar 2025
Energy affordability and security of supply were the key themes of the Downstream conference in Christchurch last week.
If NZ wants to decarbonise energy, we need to know which renewables deliver the best payback
21 Mar 2025
By Alan Brent and Isabella Pimentel Pincelli | A national energy strategy for Aotearoa New Zealand was meant to be ready at the end of last year. As it stands, we're still waiting for a cohesive, all-encompassing plan to meet the country's energy demand today and in the future.
Renters stand to gain the most from efficient energy use: EECA
19 Mar 2025
Research on how New Zealanders view and use energy in their homes shows a significant difference between homeowners and renters.
Trans-Tasman cable: Thinking big or a waste of time?
17 Mar 2025
Plans to build a $12 billion cable linking the Australian and New Zealand electricity markets are certainly ambitious.
Genesis signs second biomass agreement
17 Mar 2025
Genesis Energy has signed another preliminary agreement with a potential biomass supplier to replace coal for Huntly power station.
Decreasing industrial demand 'alarming' - major electricity users
14 Mar 2025
The Major Electricity Users group says a drop in electricity demand from industrial is 'alarming' - and the latest data also shows a worrying lack of firming generation.
Electricity Authority backs six initiatives to power the energy transition
12 Mar 2025
The Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko is providing enhanced regulatory support to six initiatives through its Power Innovation Pathway to accelerate Aotearoa New Zealand's energy transition, it announced yesterday.
NIWA offers hope for hydro
11 Mar 2025
Niwa has offered a glimmer of hope that the current extreme dry spell could be broken this autumn.
Demand reduction deal as hydro lakes drop
10 Mar 2025
The electricity sector's preparations for a potential energy shortage this winter have continued with Meridian and Tiwai Point aluminium smelter agreeing for it to reduce demand.
Meridian's shocker result and way forward
7 Mar 2025
Meridian's was expected to be a shocker of a result and, as predicted, earnings, cash flow and net profit were all down for what was its worst ever half year report since listing.
Gentailers take stock after winter energy crunch
25 Feb 2025
The half-year reporting season showed the different impacts of the difficult winter in 2024, with Contact and Genesis being the first to release results.
Watts waves the regulatory stick at gentailers
18 Feb 2025
Energy Minister Simon Watts said the Government would not accept another repeat of last winter's events in the electricity market but stopped short of saying what ministers would do if it did happen again.
Researchers look to underground future for hydrogen
5 Feb 2025
Kiwi researchers are modelling the injection, storage and extraction of 10,000 tonnes of underground hydrogen at a natural gas storage site in Taranaki.
Offshore energy bill gets almost full support
28 Jan 2025
The Offshore Renewable Energy Bill received general support in Parliament when it received its first reading late last year.
SolarZero in liquidation
27 Nov 2024
Innovative solar energy pioneer SolarZero has been put into liquidation.
Crown Minerals Bill progresses
26 Nov 2024
The Crown Minerals Amendment Bill is set to pass into law in the last parliamentary session of the year beginning December 10.
Energy market settings holding back demand response
25 Nov 2024
A study of large energy users has concluded that changes to the electricity market are needed to make demand response management viable.
Contact Energy to build a new geothermal plant at Wairakei
21 Nov 2024
Contact Energy has announced a significant investment in the redevelopment of its Wairakei geothermal power station.
Govt ring-fences $60 million to investigate new geothermal energy
14 Nov 2024
The government is putting aside $60 million to investigate new geothermal energy generation technology, which has the potential to boost renewable energy output and slash emissions.
Legislation to bring back oil and gas exploration advances
12 Nov 2024
The controversial bill to restart oil and gas exploration completed its second reading in Parliament last week after being reported back from select committee.
Electricity sector risks from climate change: analysis
6 Nov 2024
A review of the electricity sector's mandatory climate disclosures by Forsyth Barr has not changed the analysts’ investment views of the companies.
Solar’s rising shine in NZ
5 Nov 2024
Household solar and battery storage is expanding rapidly, according to Transpower.
Channel looks to energy centre - pushes out peak petrol prediction
4 Nov 2024
Channel Infrastructure has outlined ambitious plans for an energy precinct on its Marsden Point land using its infrastructure and assets to entice in other energy project developers.
Offshore wind energy company pulls out of NZ
25 Oct 2024
Spanish offshore wind energy company Bluefloat has announced it is pulling out of its New Zealand projects, citing the potential clash with seabed mining off Taranaki.
Govt policy statement urges Electricity Authority to keep up the pace
21 Oct 2024
The Government policy statement sent to the Electricity Authority puts an emphasis on implementing its past and current work programme as quickly as possible, while maintaining the market fundamentals.
Lakes refill but concerns remain about next winter
15 Oct 2024
Lake Pūkaki returned to its long-term average storage level for the first time since May.
Channel looks at multi-million dollar biorefinery at Marsden Point
8 Oct 2024
Channel Infrastructure is exploring a groundbreaking opportunity to transform its Marsden Point facility into a biorefinery, showcasing the potential of its real estate.
Govt fossil fuel plan will increase costs and emissions and won’t help energy security: Hood
2 Oct 2024
The government’s plan to restart oil and gas exploration won’t improve New Zealand’s near-term energy security challenges, and signals a long-term direction for the energy system with higher costs, less security, and higher greenhouse gas emissions, according to an expert.
Restarting oil and gas exploration risks free trade agreements: official advice
1 Oct 2024
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade advice to the government says that restarting offshore oil and gas exploration is likely to breach the Free Trade Agreement between New Zealand and the European Union.
Energy rationing proposal shot down by MfE
30 Sep 2024
By Shannon Williams | Tradable energy quotas must be in place before New Zealand has a fuel shortage crisis, Degrowth Aotearoa told a select committee.
Govt allows only five days for submissions on repeal of oil and gas ban
27 Sep 2024
By Liz Kivi | The government is allowing only five days for the public to make submissions on legislation to restart oil and gas exploration.
Oil and gas industry slows energy transition as focus shifts back to fossil fuels, says GlobalData
24 Sep 2024
The oil and gas industry has pursued energy transition avenues to decarbonise, however heightened energy security fears amid the Ukraine war have brought back the focus on fossil fuels.
Canadian company looking at Taranaki oil and gas
23 Sep 2024
Canadian energy company Monumental Energy is exploring oil and gas opportunities in the Taranaki region this week in partnership with New Zealand Energy Corp.
Manawa deal: a red rag to a bull
18 Sep 2024
Contact’s proposal to takeover Manawa may make commercial sense, but it is like waving a red rag at a bull when it comes to the politics of the move.
Emissions down overall, despite higher electricity emissions
16 Sep 2024
By Robert McLachlan | Although emissions from electricity have increased, according to the latest data, use of oil, coal, and gas has dropped off compared to the previous quarter.
Solar picking up pace
13 Sep 2024
The solar rush continues to pick up pace with Lodestone Energy starting construction on its fourth North Island utility-scale solar farm near Whitianga.
Rain, demand and prices fall
10 Sep 2024
After more than a month of elevated wholesale electricity prices, heavy rain, access to gas and more wind combined to drive spot prices down to virtually zero dollars in the last week or so.
Offshore renewables plan ignores risks: environmentalists
9 Sep 2024
The government’s plan for offshore renewables ignores environmental risks, according to the Environmental Defence Society.
Offshore electricity generation policy to speed up consents
6 Sep 2024
The Government reiterated the next steps of its ‘Electrifying New Zealand’ policy when it announced its response to the energy shortage. However, it also released details on how the offshore electricity generation regime would work.
Risks and rewards of LNG imports
4 Sep 2024
The move to import liquefied natural gas (LNG), mainly to power electricity generation, has had a mixed reaction among the major players.
Could we use hydro resources to ‘plug the gaps’ in NZ's electricity system?
29 Aug 2024
By Ian Mason | The recent spike in wholesale electricity prices due to a combination of fossil (natural) gas shortages and low hydro lake levels has prompted considerable discussion about ways to avoid this happening in the future.
Greenpeace slams plans for LNG import terminal
27 Aug 2024
Greenpeace has slammed the government’s plans for an LNG fossil gas import terminal.
Gentailers report mixed results amid pricing concerns
27 Aug 2024
Three of the four gentailers reported mixed results last week amid serious concerns about current wholesale electricity prices and long-term pricing.
NZ and UK set to partner on offshore wind
26 Aug 2024
Favourable winds may see New Zealand collaborating with the UK on renewable offshore power generation.
Gas deal done
20 Aug 2024
Methanex took one for the team and a hefty pay check when it closed down operations to sell a large amount of gas for Contact and Genesis.
Peters backs rail over road as Govt weighs heavier trucks
29 Apr 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Winston Peters has broken ranks with the Government over proposed changes to heavy vehicle rules, saying rail – not bigger trucks – is the answer to New Zealand’s fuel pressures as the Coalition considers easing weight limits to reduce freight costs.
Greens condemn planned coal mine next to protected wetland
Mon 4 May 2026
By Liz Kivi | The Green Party says a new plan for a coal mine and fertiliser plant next to an internationally significant wetland is “ecological vandalism and climate denial.”
Climate pollution static but NZ still on track for first emissions budget, says MfE
17 Apr 2026
By Liz Kivi | New Zealand is still on track to meet its first emissions budget, according to the Ministry for the Environment, despite the pace of emissions reductions slowing to a standstill.
NZ’s latest push to roll out more EV chargers is a good thing – but can it go the distance?
14 Apr 2026
A $50 million plan to expand New Zealand’s public electric vehicle (EV) charging network marks another step toward a lower-emissions transport system.
Drop in ETS forestry registrations
Tue 5 May 2026
By Liz Kivi | ETS forestry registrations have dropped off this year, with the new mandatory emissions return period, new land-use rules, and carbon price volatility all meaning participants aren’t rushing to register forestry in the emissions trading scheme.
Victorian Hydrogen announces Southland urea fertiliser project using coal
22 Apr 2026
By Liz Kivi | Australian-based Victorian Hydrogen has announced it is developing a new 1.5 million-tonne-a-year urea fertiliser operation in Southland, which it will apply for under fast-track legislation.
