Govt fossil fuel plan will increase costs and emissions and won’t help energy security: Hood

Wednesday - 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

Tuesday - 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

Monday - 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 24 - 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 24 - 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 24 - 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 24 - 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 24 - 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 24 - 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 24 - 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 24 - 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 24 - 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...

Risks and rewards of LNG imports

4 Sep 24 - 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 24 - 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...

Greenpeace slams plans for LNG import terminal

27 Aug 24 - Greenpeace has slammed the government’s plans for an LNG fossil gas import terminal.

Gentailers report mixed results amid pricing concerns

27 Aug 24 - 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 24 - Favourable winds may see New Zealand collaborating with the UK on renewable offshore power generation.

Gas deal done

20 Aug 24 - 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.

Electricity Authority looks for answers at ‘tricky stage’ in energy transition

15 Aug 24 - The Electricity Authority says this week it will consider more possible regulatory interventions and release more data on wholesale electricity price volatility.

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