Energy Forum outlines plan for region’s energy

Energy Forum outlines plan for region’s energy resources

A group dedicated to leveraging Northland’s energy supplies to help grow the regional economy has released a 24-page blueprint outlining its plans.

The Northland Energy Forum was set up 18 months ago by energy industry players, generators, lines companies and local government to try to enable economic growth through a reliable, sustainable, diverse and economic supply of energy.
Forum members include Marsden Point oil refinery operator Refining NZ (the group is chaired by Refining NZ Engineering Manager Vaughan Wykes) Meridian Energy, Top Energy, Northpower, Transpower New Zealand and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority.

Regional economic development agency the Enterprise Northland Trust (EN) and the Northland Regional Council also support the forum, with EN providing its secretariat services (including project management and administrative support).
Enterprise Northland General Manager Wayne Hutchinson says energy development is a key plank for growing Northland’s economy and the forum is keen to work collectively to influence and guide decisionmakers .

“This is believed to be the first time in New Zealand where private enterprise has led the process for a regional energy strategy; generally development of these strategies is led by local government. It’s been gratifying to see major New Zealand corporates interested and willing to invest time and resources into Northland in this way.”

Mr Hutchinson says the Northland group is keen to remove barriers to – and change attitudes towards – economic development opportunities associated with energy and has now published a 24-page strategic plan outlining its vision for the region.

“About 40 percent of New Zealand’s energy is already produced in Northland (most of it at the oil refinery), but the region also has considerable potential and untapped resources on the energy front, including renewable energy resources like wind, tidal, geothermal and bioenergy from crops and forest waste.”

Mr Hutchinson says among the challenges facing Northland is the view by many that Northland is simply a holiday destination as well as a lack of understanding about the value of energy to our local economy.

He says the forum will support specific energy projects provided:

• They add to Northland’s ability to be a net energy exporter and are from a renewable source/s
• Have the capacity to be economically self-sustaining
• They’re a catalyst for significant change to the region’s economy
• They build on Northland’s competitive and/or natural advantage/s.
Mr Hutchinson says the forum will also identify specific industries for support, which could include:

• Information technology
• Forestry value-added (new technology)
• Pulp and paper
• Mining (gold, coal)
• Marine sector/aquaculture
• Desalination plants
• Liquefied natural gas distribution
• Food industry, including dairy
• Cement
• Waste disposal
• Education
• Primary industry

“We’re also working closely with the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority to demonstrate ways of energy efficiency and promoting this.”

Mr Hutchinson says forum members realise the scale of the task ahead of them, but hope that over the next decade there will be “a visibility and acceptance of the positive impact of energy on Northland and its low environmental impact”.

Copies of the Northland Energy Forum Strategic Plan are available online via www.enterprisenorthland.co.nz or as hard copies from Northland Regional Council offices.

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