{"id":1326,"date":"2023-03-30T09:49:00","date_gmt":"2023-03-29T20:49:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bayofconnections.com\/?post_type=news-and-projects&p=1326"},"modified":"2023-03-30T11:55:25","modified_gmt":"2023-03-29T22:55:25","slug":"industry-leaders-drive-low-carbon-future","status":"publish","type":"news-and-projects","link":"https:\/\/www.bayofconnections.com\/news-and-projects\/industry-leaders-drive-low-carbon-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Industry leaders drive low carbon future"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Bay of Plenty industry leaders have taken an important step towards making the region\u2019s decarbonised future a reality, coming together to explore how they can better collaborate to reach their low carbon goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iwi and business leaders representing a wide cross-section of industries, from forestry and energy to property development and local government, met at Te Puia in Rotorua this week for a workshop introducing the Regional Energy Transition Accelerator (RETA) programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hosted by Bay of Connections and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), the workshop provided an overview of the RETA programme, the Government investment support available for businesses wanting to progress decarbonisation and \u2013 importantly \u2013 gave attendees a chance to share their low carbon transition journeys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The RETA programme is a new initiative designed to help regions understand what is needed to decarbonise process heat use; the energy used by industrial and commercial sectors for industrial processes, manufacturing, and warming spaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It aims to develop a co-ordinated approach for regional decarbonisation by understanding the specific opportunities and barriers in the wider Bay of Plenty, including Eastern Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Taup\u014d and Western Bay of Plenty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is a two-stage programme, with the initial planning stage resulting in a comprehensive report outlining the findings and pathways for implementation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This work builds on EECA\u2019s Energy Transition Accelerator (ETA) programme and recent North Island Process Heat Database work, and provides a significant opportunity for the wider Bay of Plenty to be leaders in decarbonisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are currently six RETA programmes being rolled out across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Initial RETA reports reinforce that greater sharing of cross-sector information is crucial to ensuring business and industry have all the puzzle pieces to successfully embark on making the low-carbon transition, and so that those with the energy resources – such as biomass, electricity and geothermal energy \u2013 can confidently invest in supply side infrastructure to support those businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was further reinforced by k\u014drero from Bay of Plenty businesses that are on a decarbonisation journey and keen to learn more about alternative energy sources and how to access them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Potential biomass suppliers echoed this sentiment, wanting a better understanding of what the total demand may be for biomass, and what is required to make the energy source more readily available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Major energy generators talked about how they could support local businesses to lower their carbon footprint, not only in electrifying existing fossil-fuelled operations, but also through EV charging networks, solar, and energy solutions for process heat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several iwi leaders from across the rohe reiterated the need for genuine engagement and partnership with M\u0101ori as much of the geothermal resource sits on M\u0101ori freehold land. Equally, they expressed a desire to explore how iwi entities can also decarbonise, while still delivering better outcomes for wh\u0101nau.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The workshop provided a valuable starting point for EECA to progress its six workstreams in the RETA programme from a Bay of Plenty point of view, which will culminate in a comprehensive report outlining the findings and how the region can move forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The six RETA workstreams are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n