Renewable electricity future embraced

A report on ‘accelerated electrification’ by the Interim Climate Change Committee (ICCC) and its recommendations are achievable, energy and resources minister Megan Woods says.

A future where New Zealand’s electricity generation is entirely renewable is within our reach, she says.

Woods says further work being investigated includes exploring a transport emissions reduction target and other energy storage solutions.

“New Zealanders are calling for a clean, green and carbon neutral economy. Increasing our renewable electricity will play a big part in helping us get there.”

Woods says the government’s goal is to decarbonise the economy while keeping electricity costs low for consumers and creating new jobs in renewable energy.

The minister says the challenge of reaching 100% renewable electricity by 2035 has been well signalled.

“We can have an ambitious goal while also being pragmatic. We will be conducting five-yearly assessments to ensure the energy trilemma of affordability, sustainability and security is well managed.

“A simplistic trade-off won’t be needed. We will move our country towards a zero-carbon future while keeping power prices in check for households.

“An investigation into customer electricity pricing is underway with decisions on that to be released imminently.”

Woods says the 100% renewable electricity goal will mean a sharper focus on lowering emissions from transport and process heat, the work already being prioritised.

“We are confident we can get to our 100% renewable ambition, and are confident new technologies will be developed to help us get there affordably, but we also want to signal we will be pragmatic about this goal and we won’t die in a ditch over the last couple of percent if it places unreasonable costs on households and puts security of supply at risk.”

“We have given ourselves a 16-year lead in to achieve this ambition that is so important to achieving our emission reduction goals.”

Visit www.iccc.mfe.govt.nz/what-we-do/energy/electricity-inquiry-final-report for more information.