V2G Australia
Australia Just Put $13.6 Million into V2G. What Is New Zealand Waiting For? While New Zealand debates LNG imports, diesel backup generation and billion-dollar dry-year solutions, Australia has quietly taken another step toward a fundamentally different electricity system. Amber Electric has announced a $13.6 million expansion of its Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) programme, backed by the Australian […]
LNG-Diesel?
Constructive Critique of Rewiring Aotearoa’s LNG Alternative Report Introduction Rewiring Aotearoa and Sapere deserve credit for challenging the Government’s LNG proposal and demonstrating that LNG is neither the lowest cost nor the most strategically resilient response to New Zealand’s energy security challenges. The report correctly identifies declining gas reserves, industrial dependence on gas, and the […]
Dry-year Submission
Submission on “A Proposed Reliability Obligation to Manage Dry-Year Risk” Submitted to: MBIE Consultation Email to: el****************@*******vt.nz Submissions due: 21 July 2026 Submitted by: Graeme (Consumer, Whakatāne) Executive Summary I support MBIE’s objective of reducing dry-year risk and improving the reliability of New Zealand’s electricity system. However, I am concerned that the current discussion is […]
V2G Benefits
Extending the V2G Value Proposition The Missing Transmission, Distribution and National Economic Benefits Rewiring Aotearoa has made a compelling case that electrification of transport can significantly reduce household energy costs, improve energy security, and support New Zealand’s transition to a renewable electricity system. https://www.rewiring.nz/this-car-can-info However, the current narrative understates the full economic value of an […]
Dry-Year Risk
Domestic Portfolio vs LNG Infrastructure New Zealand faces a seasonal energy deficit in a severe dry year, creates a 1.5–2.0 TWh seasonal energy shortfall, typically concentrated in winter, coinciding with peak demand. The current policy proposal is to address this via permanent LNG import infrastructure (~$200M/year fixed cost plus fuel). The MBIE paper to Cabinet […]
NZ Electricity End-State
A practical end-state for New Zealand’s electricity system New Zealand has the opportunity to transition to a highly efficient, resilient electricity system. This requires not only incremental reform, but a clear view of the destination. Without this, there is a risk that decisions made today will need to be revisited, increasing cost and delaying progress. […]
Residential Flexibility
A Working Example This is a working residential site demonstrating how solar, batteries and simple control can reduce electricity costs, support the network, and enable renters to participate. It introduces the concept of “capacity value” at the LV level. fig.1 Cycle the battery 1x per day, discharging into peak 07:00 to 11:00, recharging from solar […]
Legal Challenge against Government
Lawyers for Climate Action NZ Judicial Review against Minister of Energy – March 2026 Jessica Palairet, Executive Director of Lawyers for Climate Action NZ (LCANZ), has taken a judicial review in the High Court against Simon Watts challenging the Government’s second emissions reduction plan (ERP2). The case is tightly constructed. It argues that the plan […]
NZ Fossil Influencers
Current Government Policy The sequence of energy decisions made since the current government took office follows a consistent policy direction: prioritising short-term supply security, regulatory simplification, and market-led energy development. This approach reflects the government’s stated economic philosophy that energy markets should determine investment outcomes and that regulatory barriers to resource development should be reduced. […]
Queenstown Energy
Queenstown is approaching a critical infrastructure moment. Two major pressures are developing at the same time: electricity supply into the basin is reaching its limits and the transport corridor between Frankton, the airport and Queenstown town centre is already failing. Both problems are currently being addressed through traditional infrastructure responses that will cost hundreds of […]