Fossil fuels, used to supply process heat for industrial businesses like factories, result in over 8 million tonnes of CO2 or over quarter of the country’s overall energy emissions per year.
Decarbonising process heat used by New Zealand’s largest emitters is critical. Large projects of national significance are needed to help meet our emissions budgets.
Unlocking large emissions reduction projects from the largest energy users frequently requires a bespoke partnership approach. It can also involve working with those involved in an energy user’s supply chain, and operating environment.
The programme was confirmed as part of expansion of the GIDI Fund in Budget 2022.
Partnerships are critical to success at the scale needed. GIDI co-funding helps accelerate action and deliver larger and earlier emissions reductions for New Zealand.
How the co-funding is applied
EECA works alongside New Zealand’s largest emitters to explore the opportunity for reducing their reliance on fossil fuels – both from a technical and economic perspective. This results in an agreement aligned to the same Investment Principles that apply across all GIDI co-funding.
Emissions reduction, value for money, and proof of additionality are central to a project going ahead.
Key benefits of large energy user partnerships
- A significant contribution to the decarbonisation of New Zealand’s economy, especially over the next two emissions budgets
- Enabling a focus on long term decarbonisation
- Maximising private investment in decarbonisation projects
- New Zealand’s renewable energy resources will be used as efficiently as possible
- Support for a fair and just transition across all sectors and regions
- Early adoption of technologies with wide potential for replication by business
- Lessons learned and shared with other New Zealand businesses supporting our transition to renewables at a national level
Co-funding to date:
The Government has announced its intention to partner with NZ Steel on an Electric Arc Furnace.
Further opportunities will be explored over the coming years.
Read the press release:
NZ's biggest ever emissions reduction project unveiled(external link)
Explore alternative opportunities
Explore alternative EECA co-funding and support available.
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