Something borrowed, something blue

The Aussies have one-upped us again when it comes to energy: New South Wales homes that qualify will soon get access to zero-interest loans up to $15,000 to upgrade to electric kit.

• Read about the scheme here. 

While our Government continues to focus on temporary relief like the Winter Energy Payment and thinks 'putting downward pressure on prices' will do the job (even though this has had no real impact on bills over time), the Aussies have been pushing ahead with incentives for solar, batteries and EVs that can permanently reduce energy bills - and strengthen their energy system.

These electric upgrades cost more upfront but they pay off over time. The issue is that not everyone has access to the capital to get those savings, which means the barriers to uptake are stubbornly financial.

Low interest, long-term finance will go a long way to solving this (the New South Wales scheme also offers additional support to low-income households). And Energy Impact Loans through the Ratepayer Assistance Scheme offer it in New Zealand.

The scheme has been waiting for the Government's backing for months. The economics stack up. Over 20 councils are behind it. And energy costs keep rising.

We cannot rely on the incumbents to bring prices down. So why isn’t the Government helping New Zealanders help themselves like they are in Australia? Why are we waiting?

‍Tiny but mighty

We are big backers of plug-in solar here at Rewiring and we’re pleased to see the Government taking a look at it as part of its solar red tape review. It’s booming in Europe, and it’s getting ready to boom in the US, and The New York Times’ Robinson Meyer has written about ‘The tiny solar panel that could change America (paywalled)’. 

As he writes:

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“Americans and our government have a tendency to treat the current energy system, and the current set of technologies that enliven it, as finished and fixed. In reality, they are always changing. The electricity system of the 2000s relied far more on coal than ours does now. We will not always pump a carcinogenic cocktail of fossil fuels into our vehicles just to run errands or go to work, just as we no longer illuminate our homes with kerosene. Plug-in solar demonstrates one version of the coming changes: With its small size, it makes balcony and backyard power production possible. But it’s only one messenger of many from that new world.”

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In the UK, these plug in panels are poised to go on sale within months after a review found they were safe, according to the Times. 

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Read our explainer here.

In the driver’s seat

There’s no substitute for experience and a scheme called EVolocity gives school students across Aotearoa the chance to design, build, and race their own electric vehicles.

“Year 7 to 13 age teams or individuals build a vehicle (either a bike or with 3+ wheels) powered by a standard 350W electric motor, controller and two 12V gel cells. Innovation is encouraged as students strive to make their vehicle the fastest with the least drag, and able to cope with the demands of a tight street circuit. The Engineering Design Award encourages teams to build innovative features, such as smart monitoring or object detection and avoidance.”

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We know that our electric future will require a lot more workers - from sparkies to solar installers. And we’ve showcased a range of electric innovators on our channels. As the site says, this scheme is building more than just electric vehicles – “we’re building the next generation of innovators, along with the skills they need to make a positive impact on their future, and the world they live in.” 

Ideally, it’s also building a generation of drivers who choose to run on local electricity, rather than imported fuel. 

There are some impressive testimonials on the website, but we particularly enjoyed this one from Chris Georgetti, Technology Teacher – Otaki College.

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Participation has had a lasting impact beyond the competition. Several of our students have gone on to careers in the building and electrical trades or to study engineering at university. Others have applied their skills within the school — one team even designed and built an electric caretaker’s cart, which continues to be used daily. Otaki College wholeheartedly recommends the EVolocity programme to all schools. We also extend our sincere thanks to all past and future sponsors whose generosity makes this inspiring initiative possible. Your support helps young people gain real‑world STEM skills, confidence, and a passion for innovation.

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Reduce, re-use, recycle 

We get a lot of questions about waste at Rewiring, and we’ve covered the work of Redwood Materials before, because it’s a real world example showing the resources needed for electric machines are valuable and, unlike fuel that is burned and disappears into the sky, able to be re-used or recycled.

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Ashlee Vance went to visit the facility, which has previously run data centres off old EV batteries, and talked to founder JB Straubel.

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JB Straubel helped turn Tesla into a giant, then he walked away to chase a stranger idea: that the millions of dead batteries piling up across America are actually one of the richest mines on the planet … old laptops, e-bikes, cell phones, toothbrushes and entire EV battery packs roll in by the truckload and leave as pure copper, nickel, cobalt and lithium. Redwood now takes in roughly 70 percent of the lithium-ion batteries reaching the end of their life in the United States, and it has quietly become the largest cobalt producer in the country without digging a single hole in the ground.”

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Australia has recently put in place a recycling scheme for solar panels and batteries will be on the list eventually, while Phoenix Recycling is leading the charge here in New Zealand.

Share the love

Rewiring Aotearoa is a charity so we know all about how important it is (hint, hint). And there are a couple of good electric promotions worthy of support right now.

Down in Dunedin, the local Think Solar branch is offering a free install to a worthy not-for-profit, so, "whether it’s a sports club, volunteer group, or charity" it wants to hear about the people bringing good energy to Dunedin. 

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BYD is also giving away a $100,000 Shark 6 plug in hybrid with all the trimmings to raise money for Hato Hone St John. 

Built in partnership with Auto Trader and some of New Zealand's leading automotive accessories brands, the BYD Shark 6 “Ururoa” is up for auction in support of Hato Hone St John’s June Appeal.

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Bidding closes on June 21.

A sunny disposition

We all know someone who’s got solar and then quickly becomes insufferable / ‘more engaged with their energy use’.  And this skit captures that brilliantly. 

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