Up the Kilowahs! Checkout the EDB Scoreboard
Following on from the Government's announcement at Fieldays, farmers now have a helpline to call and co-funding available for solar and battery systems.
Going electric is smart, but all that chat about kilowatts, connection sizes and export limits can be a bit confusing. That's why good, independent advice is so important and it's great to see EECA's new solar on farms phoneline is open for business.
Everyone loves a discount, so it's also great to see there's an opportunity for farms to get some demonstration funding for solar and battery systems, as long as you meet the criteria and are willing to share your experience. Co-funding applications open 18 September and offer up to $200k per farm for systems from 30-500Kw.
Solar and batteries can lower costs, lower emissions and improve resilience. And it's one area where farmers don't have to compromise on anything. The sector is going well at the moment, and there are big payouts on the horizon for many after the sale of Fonterra's consumer brands, so it could be a good time to invest.
More solar and batteries doesn't just help the farmers, however. It will also be an important part of our future energy system and help bring the price of electricity down for everyone else, too.
As EECA says:
On-farm solar, battery storage, and flexible energy systems are becoming practical, viable options for powering farms and growing operations. Solar generation can also offer farmers greater control over their energy use, supporting efficiency and productivity.
The solar on farms initiative provides trusted information and support options to help farmers and growers unlock the potential of solar and battery energy systems to reduce on-farm costs, improve energy resilience, and drive long-term energy security.
It's time to show some interest in low-interest, long-term energy loans; looking enviously across the seas at Australia's energy push; an electric atmosphere beckons as the Special Olympics heads to the all-electric Parakiore indoors sports and swimming centre in Christchurch; EV Maritime's Michael Eaglen and Evnex's Ed Harvey share their views; Volkswagen follows the honey in its electric van; and climate comedian Oli Frost generously creates an ad campaign for French bank Société Générale.
Read moreDownloadYou may have heard there's an 'electric election' coming up next year. We've met with a huge range of politicians from right across the spectrum and the ones who pick up what Rewiring is putting down are often those who have already invested in solar, batteries, EVs, heatpumps and induction cooktops and have experienced the benefits first hand. That's why we're kicking off a new series called Political Power, where we talk to some of our decision makers about the decisions they've made in their own lives and how they plan to reduce energy bills for others, reduce emissions and improve our resilience and energy security.
Read moreDownloadElectrify everything. Electrify everyone. Electrify New Zealand. That's Rewiring Aotearoa's vision and our CEO Mike Casey gave a condensed version of what we've done and what we're doing at our Electric Christmas party recently. As he said to a large crowd at Ecotricity, which kindly hosted the event and provided the excellent electric cake, 2024 was the year of the thinking, 2025 was the year of the doing, and 2026 will be the year of mass adoption.
Read moreDownload