EECA has confirmed the recipients of fresh rounds of funding for two programmes aimed at improving energy affordability for low-income households and bolstering resilience for communities vulnerable to natural disasters.
The Community Renewable Energy Fund (CREF) was established in 2022 to create a network of ‘community resilience sites’ at schools, marae and other premises, to support communities in remote or rural areas when flooding, earthquakes, slips, or coastal inundation strike.
Through CREF, 22 regional partners will receive a total of $9.6 million in co-funding, with regional partners committing a total of $3.2 million to install vital infrastructure that allows the sites to stay powered if cut off from mains supply. 10-30kW of solar PV arrays and battery energy storage systems (BESS) will be installed across a total of 150 community resilience sites.
Additionally, the Support for Energy Education in Communities (SEEC) programme will give five providers a total of $2.209 million over two years to deliver energy education and advice tailored to households experiencing energy hardship around New Zealand. A 2024 evaluation [PDF 1.5 MB] found that SEEC delivered positive return on investment for society ($1.70 benefit for $1 invested) and government ($2.21 for $1 invested).
EECA (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority) took on the administration of the programmes from MBIE this year.
Richard Briggs, EECA’s Group Manager — Delivery and Partnerships, said solar PV and battery systems, as well as wraparound energy use education, are critical to smart, efficient energy use.
“As the lead agency supporting communities and organisations to shore up energy resilience and decrease energy costs, we’re proud to deliver initiatives that stand to have a profound, positive impact in households and communities.”
Community Renewable Energy Fund Round 2
This round of CREF covers 150 sites from Northland, to Coromandel, Bay of Plenty, Tairāwhiti, Hawkes Bay, Tararua, Wairarapa, Marlborough, Nelson, Tasman, West Coast and a part of Canterbury.
The site selection process is underway. Regional partners will work with site owners to set up the network.
Supporting Energy Education in Communities programme Round 5
Under the SEEC programme, households in Bay of Plenty, Auckland, Northland, Wellington, Porirua, Hutt Valley, Kāpiti, Horowhenua, Wairarapa, Nelson, Tasman, and Marlborough will receive in-home energy assessments and household-specific recommendations supported by other initiatives such as:
- free or low-cost energy-saving equipment (e.g. LED bulbs, draught stoppers, curtains)
- Healthy Homes Standards checks
- identification and minor rectification of home energy inefficiencies
- referrals to related programmes (e.g. Warmer Kiwi Homes, Healthy Homes Initiative)
- personalised support with energy use and power bills.
List of CREF regional partners in Round 2
- Hauraki District Council, $264,000
- Kawerau District Council, $132,000
- Trust Tairāwhiti, $450,000
- Hasting District Council, $462,000
- Tararua District Council, $330,000
- Nelson City Council, $330,000
- Marlborough District Council, $396,000
- Grey District Council, $264,000
- Selwyn District Council, $396,000
- Christchurch City Council, $198,000
- Central Hawkes Bay District Council, $264,000
- Tasman District Council, $660,000
- Rotorua Lakes Council, $198,000
- Napier City Council, $264,000
- Buller District Council, $264,000
- Northland Regional Council, $1,188,000
- Thames Coromandel District Council, $594,000
- Bay of Plenty Regional Council, $1,056,000
- Western Bay of Plenty District Council, $528,000
- Masterton District Council, $792,000
- Westland District Council, $264,000
- Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa, $264,000
List of SEEC providers in Round 5
- Sustainability Options – Bay of Plenty
- Habitat for Humanity Northern Region Ltd – Auckland; Northland
- Sustainability Trust and Tu Kotahi Māori Asthma Trust – Wellington; Porirua; Hutt Valley; Kāpiti; Horowhenua; Wairarapa
- Te Piki Oranga Limited – Nelson; Tasman; Marlborough
- Papakura Kootuitui Trust Board – Auckland