Business
Energy use in business
We have over 346,000 businesses in New Zealand that use about 353 Petajoules of energy a year, which is 68% of New Zealand's total energy consumption. This includes both standing energy and transport energy.
For both large and small businesses there are benefits in managing energy use better, and switching to renewable energy where possible. Alongside the cost savings, consumers are increasingly favouring businesses that show a commitment to environmental responsibility.
Our business focus
We have a particular interest in helping businesses of all sizes become more energy efficient and competitive through:
- Identifying energy management opportunities and helping businesses make the most of them by developing energy management action plans and providing grants to undertake audits
- Encouraging new or under-used technology projects that make processes more efficient
- Supporting projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- Developing the wood fuel industry.
Many projects that we support are independently monitored and shared with industry via case studies, website and media articles.
Wood energy for business
Wood energy (including wood residue and by-products, and dedicated, fast growing trees, bushes and shrubs) is being increasingly recognised as a valuable source of energy for larger-scale commercial and industrial applications.
Our wood energy programme
Our wood energy programmeprovides information and funding to businesses using and selling wood energy - thus enabling more use of the vast wood energy resource available in this country.
Business grants are available for up to 40% of the capital cost of the project, with a minimum of $10,000 and maximum of $200,000. Grants for feasibility studies are available up to a maximum of 75% of the feasibility study costs (capped at $50,000). The applicant must be willing to have the results of the grants publicised as a case study.
The Bioenergy Knowledge Centre provides tools and information for utilising wood residue as a renewable energy source.
