Renewable energy
Renewable energy is defined as energy that is self restoring like solar, wind, and goethermal. Using renewable enegry reduces the amount of greenhouse gases we emit. We are lucky to have excellent renewable energy resources in New Zealand.
Our renewable energy programme
EECA supports and promotes the uptake of renewable energy in New Zealand. We provide assistance and support aimed at removing any barriers to the uptake of renewable energy. Our work includes:
Providing independent and impartial quality information
Providing financial assistance
Suppporting renewable energy projects in the resource consent process
Working with and supporting renewable energy industries.
Providing independent and impartial quality information
EECA provides information to address any barriers that could slow the uptake of renewable energy in New Zealand. Examples of this service include the following.
- Working with Regional and District Councils to identify what renewable energy resources they have in their area, and how to integrate these into their planning and strategy processes.
- Undertaking public opinion surveys on attitudes to renewable energy
- Helping to reduce compliance costs for small-scale renewable energy technologies by providing targeted information to local government
- Providing public information on renewable energy technologies in New Zealand
- Providing information on renewable transport energy options, including biofuels and electric vehicles
- Undertaking targeted research or studies on energy supply issues in New Zealand.
- Raising awareness of the benefits and costs of distributed generation in New Zealand.
Providing financial assistance
This helps address any capital cost barriers to the uptake of renewable energy in New Zealand. Examples include the following.
- Providing information and funding for the use of bioenergy in industry
- Providing funding to help organisations convert to wood-boilers. Part of this included a pilot progamme for helping schools to convert their coal boilers to wood-fired boiler. This programme is now fully subscribed.
- Providing capital grants for renewable energy projects in energy intensive businesses
- Providing crown loans for cost-effective renewable energy projects in central and local government funded organisations
- Providing solar water heating information and grants
- Administering the Marine Energy Deployment Fund
- Providing financial assistance for feasibility studies on potential distributed generation projects
Suppporting renewable energy projects in the resource consent process
EECA supports renewable energy projects by:
- Providing submissions in support of renewable energy resource consent applications under the Resource Management Act
- Providing submissions on regional policy statements and regional and district plans, to ensure these recognise and provide for renewable energy
Working with and supporting renewable energy industries in New Zealand
Renewable energy industries include:
- New Zealand Wind Energy Association
- Sustainable Electricity Association of New Zealand
- Solar Industries Association
- New Zealand Geothermal Association
- Aotearoa Wave and Tidal Energy Association.
EECA works with these industries by:
- providing seed funding to establish industry associations
- supporting and encouraging the development of quality standards for installation, product durability, and system design
- assisting with the development of accreditation schemes for installers, to support improved consumer choice.
More information
- Information about renewable energy technologies in use in New Zealand
- Distributed generation
- Energy data file on renewables [Ministry of Economic Development website]
- Renewable Energy and Security of Supply report (Concept Consulting, June 2009) >> Download the Renewable Generation and Security of Supply report
