Thought-provoking panel discussions, speeches, and presentations at the New Zealand Energy Conference this month sparked debate on security, affordability and the environmental sustainability of New Zealand’s energy.
“This conference offers an important opportunity to open conversation on the latest innovation and gives maximum exposure to government, industry and research communities implicated in the energy sector,” said Professor Emilson Silva speaking about the University of Auckland conference.
Key areas of discussion covered:
- Electricity supply and demand
- Energy storage and use
- Transportation and manufacturing
- Energy efficient and positive buildings and communities
Professor Deo Prasad, University of New South Wales, stressed the importance of decarbonisation because of the state of the climate and how Earth’s temperatures have already spiked higher than 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels.
If global temperatures reach 2 degrees of global warming, then it’s going to affect, “how we live, where we live, our comfort, health and wellbeing,” he said.
Energy supply, particularly from renewable energy sources was a focus of the conference. Professor Hicham Idriss, University College London, talked about the future of hydrogen energy.
“The power of hydrogen and its important effect on cleaning the environment can be seen when it is used as a fuel for transport, heat and other energy applications, leading to a large reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.”
Many conference participants wanted to see faster adoption of renewable energy and were concerned at the lack of pace. The pros and cons of different energy sources were debated including decentralized roof-top-solar, unlocking geothermal, potential in offshore wind, and exploring marine energy.
Professor Richard Green, Imperial College, gave a speech on economic modelling for “an uncertain energy transition,” and about how energy use may look in 2050 and beyond depending on a range of scenarios and climate ambition.
Panelists talked about electricity markets needing to be for the consumers, and that both business and individuals needed to be brought through the energy transition.
“Behind every kilowatt-hour is a child doing homework. A marae staying warm. A whanau chasing a dream,” said Dr Cristiano Marantes, Ara Ake.
Dr Marantes also said jobs and economic prosperity could be added to the energy trilemma of security, affordability and environmental sustainability, with innovation being key.
Conference participants expressed concerns about the electricity markets, “not delivering”. According to Professor Emilson Silva, there needs to be more competition in the markets. In his closing remarks Professor Silva called for an energy strategy for New Zealand.
“We need security, affordability and an economy where gentailers are not as powerful as they are now. There need to be bold steps and commitment to have secure electricity generation in fifty to one hundred years from now.”
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- Panel discussion on the electricity market: Dr Cristiano Marantes, Karen Boyes, Sarah Gillies, Tim Boyce, John Carnegie, Simon Bridges and Professor Andy Philpott (Chair: Professor Emilson Silva)
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- Panel on net zero carbon industry: Tony Oosten, Brent Rees, Bridget Ayling, Tim Edmonds, Scott Russell and Professor Richard Green (Chair: Professor Brent Young)
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- Professor Emilson Silva
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- Keynote speaker Professor Richard Green with Associate Professor Stephen Poletti and Helen Huang
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- Panel on energy supply in 2050: Dr Shanghai Wei, Professor Hicham Idriss, Associate Professor Ludmila Adam, Associate Professor Michael O’Sullivan and Alan Eyes (Chair: Dr Ziyung Wang)
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- Professor Emilson Silva and keynote speaker Dr Cristiano Marantes
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- Professor Andy Philpott
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- Keynote speaker Professor Hicham Idriss with Professor Geoffrey Waterhouse, Dr Ziyung Wang, and Dr Shanghai Wei
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- Panel discussion on energy issues in buildings and cities: Dr Alessandro Premier (chair), Warner Brunton, Professor Paola Boarin, Tricia Love, Andrew Eagles, Professor Deo Prasad and Dave Watson
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- Andrew Eagles, Professor Paola Boarin, Dave Watson, Tricia Love, Professor Deo Prasad and Dr Alessandro Premier
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- Professor Alessandro Premier and keynote speaker Professor Deo Prasad
Thank you to the four keynote speakers Professor Richard Green from Imperial College, Dr Cristiano Marantes from Ara Ake, Professor Hicham Idriss from UCL, and Professor Deo Prasad from the University of New South Wales, and to the 48 oral presenters, 16 poster presenters, and 24 panelists for presenting energy in an interesting way, and contributing to finding a way to move forwards.
Thank you also to all the 2025 sponsors for helping to make the conference possible:
- EECA (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority)
- Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko
- The MacDiarmid Institute
- Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
- Internal sponsors from the University of Auckland:
Energy Centre, Business School
Green Energy Engineering Centre, Faculty of Engineering and Design
Faculty of Science
Future Cities Research Centre, University of Auckland
Ngā Ara Whetū – Centre for Climate, Biodiversity and Society.
The conference was organised by the Energy Research Consortium, University of Auckland.