A Clearer Picture Of New Zealand’s Energy Transition

New Zealand’s energy transition matters to all of us. It affects how we power our homes and businesses, how we get around, and how much energy costs. The transition is essential, but it is also complex, involving changes across electricity, fuels, infrastructure and how energy is used.

To help take action on this challenge, organisations across the energy system launched the Energy Transition Framework in April last year.

The Framework brings organisations together to agree shared priorities and do the work needed to support a secure, affordable and lower-emissions energy system for Aotearoa.

From the outset, one of the key actions identified through the Framework was the need for clearer, more joined-up information. Research at the time showed many New Zealanders wanted better information about energy. While organisations share a lot of information individually, it can be hard to see the system as a whole.

The refreshed Powering Change platform responds to this need. It provides a single, accessible place for information about New Zealand’s energy system, bringing together data and insights to show how the transition is progressing and how the system is performing.

A key part of the refresh is the quarterly Measures and Metrics report. Updated every three months, the report tracks data from government and industry across key elements like energy prices, reliability, renewables and emissions, allowing people to see how the system is tracking over time.

Powering Change does not promote a single solution. Instead, it looks at the energy system as a whole and how different energy sources, infrastructure and technologies work together to keep energy secure and affordable during the transition.

Nigel Barbour, Chief Executive of The Orion Group and Chair of the Energy Transition Framework, says access to clear information has been important from the start.

“The energy transition affects everyday life — from how we power our homes and businesses to how we get around,” Barbour says.
“To make good decisions, people need access to clear, reliable information.”

“Since the Framework got underway, we’ve been working through some of the toughest issues, including electricity security of supply and gas availability. That has reinforced the need to be able to see how the system is performing overall, not just in individual parts.”

The refreshed Powering Change platform is the first step in building a clearer, more transparent view of New Zealand’s energy transition.

The updated platform is available now at poweringchange.nz

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