More money for EECA grants

Grants for low emissions projects are being ramped up by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).

New funding rounds under the Government’s Low Emission Transport Fund (LETF) administered by EECA open mid-2022 after successful applicants in the first two rounds were announced earlier this year.

Up to $25 million annually in funding will be available from 2023/24 to support the demonstration and adoption of low emission transport technology, innovation and infrastructure to accelerate the decarbonisation of the New Zealand transport sector. EECA chief executive Andrew Caseley says that as the amount ramps up about $18 million will be offered in co-funding next year.

“So that’s a major step up from the about $6 million a year provided from funding under the previous contestable fund,” he says.

Speaking in an online session in support of Drive Electric’s new website launch, Caseley says a “roadmap” will be provided on public EV charging places with “multi-head” charging facilities sought to help alleviate wait times – a growing problem at some key EV charger installations.

While Caseley expects most EV charging will be in the home, he says sufficient electricity supply for EV charging needs to be available, so standards are likely to be established around EV charging.

He notes transport minister Michael Wood’s pre-recorded speech during the Drive Electric presentation also included the target of a 20% drop in the current annual total number of vehicle kilometres travelled in a year by 2035.

The transport sector produces 47% of New Zealand’s CO2 emissions, and between 1990 and 2018, domestic transport emissions increased by 90%.

Wood also expects New Zealand’s Emissions Reduction Plan to be finalised this May – around the time of the Government’s Budget release.

He believes the Government’s actions to encourage EV uptake will lead to more EV manufacturers offering to bring their products here, such as in Opel’s recent announcement.