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Wairarapa is the place to be this week, writes Rewiring Aotearoa's ecosystem lead Jay Salzke. The Electrify Wairarapa Conference and Expo is kicking off in Masterton on the 22nd-23rd November and anyone interested in learning more about the massive electrification opportunity in front of local businesses, farms, vineyards, orchards, schools, community centres and homes across the region should be there.
When a household electrifies, they open up a range of financial, health and environmental benefits. When a community electrifies, that impact can be exponential: lower emissions, cleaner air, a supported local economy and more collective power.
That’s why we’re thrilled to see community members in Wairarapa take up the call and organise Electrify Wairarapa, a two-day event taking place on Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd November focused on electrification education and inspiration. It’s a prime example of the sort of ground up movement that is needed to see electrification uptake increase nationwide.
The Electrify Wairarapa Conference and Expo will showcase the electrification opportunity for businesses, farms, vineyards, orchards, schools, community centres and homes across Wairarapa.
On the Friday, the ticketed conference (get yours here) will outline the economic, environmental, and social benefits of electrification. Speakers include Geoff Simmons, Chief Economist at the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, who will discuss the feasibility of a 100% renewable future for New Zealand; Jamie Silk, Community Energy Expert at Silk Innovations, who will provide practical advice on transitioning to an electrified lifestyle; and Mike Casey, CE of Rewiring Aotearoa, who will share his journey of creating the world’s first electric cherry orchard.
Discussing the opportunities for Wairarapa infrastructure are Prof. Emeritus Ralph Sims from Massey University, who will speak about the need to reduce carbon emissions and the co-benefits that come with that; Murray Bell, Group Manager Policy and Regulation at EECA, who will explore the latest innovations in energy-efficient building design; and James Howard, Senior Projects Manager at Tranzit Group, who will discuss electrifying local transport networks.
Gareth Sinton, Principal of Douglas Park Primary School, will share his experience with installing solar panels on large buildings, and Daniel Gnoth, Energy Futures Manager at Powerco, will discuss infrastructure challenges and opportunities.
During the second half of the day, the focus will shift to opportunities for businesses in Wairarapa. Prof Alan Brent from Victoria University will discuss the benefits of small and medium-scale solar arrays for farming operations; Garry Peek, CEO of PEEK Robotics, will showcase the potential of electric farm machinery; Jonny Parker, CEO of ThunderGrid, will discuss the role of large portable battery solutions in charging EVs; and Tony Pearson, Managing Director of Tecnico, will highlight the advantages of combining wind and solar power.
Rounding out the day is John Prendergast, CEO of Trust House, who will discuss the implications of electrification for landlords and tenants; Chloe Kwak from ASB will delve into green loans and financing emissions reduction, CEO of Tū Mai Rā Energy, Matiu Taurau, will explore the Papakāinga model’s applicability in community energy supply; and Jonny Parker will wrap up the conference by discussing the role of EVs in increasing resilience when the lights go out.
The following day, over 20 exhibitors will showcase examples of the technologies available right now to electrify your home and community, from solar panels and wind turbines to hybrid and electric vehicles, home appliances, robotic equipment, electric farm machinery, and batteries. Exhibitors will also be sharing information about careers opportunities in the energy transition.
This is a great opportunity for members of the Wairarapa community - and those slightly further afield - to learn more about electrification and how they can get involved. Whether you're looking to lower your bills, increase your self-sufficiency, contribute to a low emissions future or help your community, join the local movement and head along to the Electrify Wairarapa Conference and Expo.
Everyone is rocking on down to Electric Avenue today (this one online, not that other small one in Hagley Park in Christchurch), so let's ride the lightning: profits and electricity prices keep going up, as panels keep going down; a new paper puts a number on how much more homes with solar sell for; we're bottling things up with big and small batteries and they are eating into gas in Australia and California; transport emissions drop across the Tasman as a result of Government EV incentives, while HEB Construction electrifies its fleet; electrons are coming from above in China; and Xpeng announces the arrival of a crazy looking electric van/aircraft carrier.
Read moreDownloadWarren G and Nate Dogg said it best when they said: 'Regulators, mount up!' - and this week, they have.In a rare joint open letter, three different regulators - EECA (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority), the Commerce Commission and the Electricity Authority - have basically told the lines companies to pull their socks up and make the most of ‘non-network solutions’ (AKA stop building more expensive poles and wires and start looking at customers and new technology as part of the solution!).
Read moreDownload"The LNG announcement from earlier this month has set the stage: electricity, and the energy sector more broadly, is set to be a major election issue this year. Casey has compared electricity to telecommunications, an area where services have become much cheaper in the last decade with technology advancing. “There are supply challenges for the grid and natural gas, and increasing pressure to find sustainable alternatives as reliance on fossil fuels becomes less viable,” he wrote in a Newsroom piece earlier this month, heralding the “electric election”.
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