Govt needs to do more on Clean Energy to avoid $30b carbon blowout

SEANZ
Media Release for immediate use - 05 April 2018

The Sustainable Electricity Association NZ (SEANZ) said today that the Government needed to do more to enable the adoption of new clean energy technologies by kiwi homes and businesses if the country is to avoid the $30b additional costs predicted in the Westpac NZ Climate Change Impact Report released yesterday.

SEANZ Chair Brendan Winitana said “the pace of regulatory change needs to quicken if New Zealand is to realise the macroeconomic benefits of a transition to a zero-carbon economy.

“We can realise significant gains in economic activity in the electricity and transport sectors, and lower prices for consumers, if the electricity market is opened to true competition enabled through new smart energy technologies.

“The smart home and business can be the cornerstone of our clean energy revolution if the government gets it right, and quickly, with its electricity sector review,” said Mr Winitana.

Solar PV, battery storage, smart EV charging, connected by a peer-to-peer market, presents the perfect opportunity to implement the energy efficiency and load management options that can make a significant contribution to a 100% renewable electricity network and to decarbonise our transport fleet.

Mr Winitana said “New Zealand’s energy use is projected to double by 2050 so it is vitally important we drive innovation to minimise the carbon exposure of Kiwi households and businesses.

“As an example, solar households have already saved the country NZ$ 860,000 in avoided greenhouse gas emissions. MBIE modelling shows that solar installed with batteries will become the norm and that avoided greenhouse gas emissions costs could save New Zealand an estimated NZ$ 0.5 billion between 2016 and 2040 and this is just the tip of the iceberg.

“The challenge is for the Government to pave the way for our clean energy future as the status quo will lock New Zealand into old technology and old business models and leave the country $30b out of pocket,” said Mr Winitana.

ENDS

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