Decarbonisation

Our work in this area includes supporting the development of low-emissions industries and promoting the adoption of sustainable practices in sectors such as transport, energy, and the built environment.

EECA Regional Energy Transition Accelerator Programme

The Regional Energy Transition Accelerator (RETA) is a national programme run by EECA to develop and share a well-informed and coordinated approach for regional decarbonisation.

The programme focuses on understanding localised opportunities and barriers faced by the industry when seeking to reduce emissions from process heat – the energy used for heat generation in manufacturing and processing primary products. This currently makes up over a quarter of New Zealand’s energy-related emissions. This programme is being rolled out across Aotearoa New Zealand in stages.

Bay of Connections has partnered with EECA to bring the RETA programme to the Bay of Plenty. The first step was an introductory workshop for medium and large energy users, energy suppliers and other interested parties held in Rotorua, in late March 2023.

The slides from that workshop are available here. 

The Bay of Plenty RETA has four workstreams: Demand assessment, Electricity availability, Biomass availability and Geothermal assessment.

To keep up to date with progress on the Bay of Plenty RETA, please sign up to our e-pānui.

If you are interested in learning more about making a transition to a lower-carbon operation, and/or potentially contributing to the required energy resources, please contact info@bayofconnections.com.

Geoheat

Over 95 per cent of New Zealand’s geothermal industry is located in the Taupō Volcanic Zone, which extends from the central plateau through Bay of Plenty and offshore to Whakaari/White Island.  

Geothermal is a critical part of our region’s economy, culture and heritage. As well as providing energy, power, tourism and wellness opportunities, the cultural significance and historical uses are part of our national identity.

Renewable geothermal resources can deliver not only baseload electricity, but also heat energy, or “geoheat”, for industrial processes and primary production systems, displacing fossil fuels such as coal or natural gas.

In Aotearoa New Zealand, geoheat is used in timber industries, food processing, agriculture, aquaculture, heating, tourism, and health. 

Bay of Connections supports geothermal development within sustainable limits of the resource and is an active participant in the NZ Geothermal Association Geoheat Action Group.

Industry decarbonisation through increased uptake of geoheat will contribute towards meeting Aotearoa’s low carbon energy goals, promote renewable energy, contribute to regional economic and social development, and further increase renewable and clean energy use which will assist in meeting our 2030 greenhouse gas reduction commitments.

New Zealand Geothermal Week

Bay of Connections was a bronze sponsor of NZ Geothermal Week 2023, which took place in Taupō, hosted by Amplify and the NZ Geothermal Association. This year’s theme was ‘Energy Transitions in Aotearoa – The Role of Geothermal’, a topic closely aligned to our aspiration and focus on decarbonisation.