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Mike Casey lays out Rewiring Aotearoa's argument for a regulatory change that would allow customers with solar and batteries to compete fairly with large generators, something we call symmetrical export tariffs. It's important to note that these are not subsidies or rebates. "They simply ensure customers get a true reflection of the value they provide to the electricity market. They are no more a rebate than the half-hourly prices in the wholesale market, paid to generators for their output ... The current pricing structure is compromising New Zealand’s delivery of a secure and affordable power system; it fails to recognise that peak demand could be reduced with the help of household batteries; it perpetuates the idea that we need to spend tens of billions to upgrade our poles and wires to cope with that peak demand; and it is stifling demand for solar and batteries among New Zealanders because their true value is not being accurately reflected in the price paid for export."
Read moreDownload the document hereFairbank Farms in Southland installed a $200k solar and battery system on its dairy farm and, as co-owner Chris Stewart says, they were able to continue milking even though the grid was down after the recent storms. With a sizeable payout coming to Fonterra farmers from the sale of its consumer brands soon, he says it would be a good time for them to invest in greater resilience. Rewiring Aotearoa CEO Mike Casey says dairy farmers listen to dairy farmers so this is a great proof point for others to take the leap into solar and batteries, while Fed Farmers wants to see more members setting themselves up to run off the grid.
Read moreDownloadThere’s plenty of energy emanating from the ground at Te Puia in Rotorua. And there’s plenty of creative energy emanating from those studying at the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute. Now there’s also plenty of electric energy, because the business has upgraded its fossil fuel vehicles and added a big solar system so they can run on the sun.
Read moreDownloadIn search of cleaner air, Vietnam prepares to usher in an electric motorbike era, while other developing nations go electric for the economics and the UK goes bananas for small EVs; ten years since the Paris Accord and there are many reasons to be optimistic; America's first all-electric hospital gets set to open; Pila Energy looks to get more storage into homes by focusing on appliances; Australia takes another step forward on V2G and some customers are making good money from renting out their cars; and an electric angle to the Louvre heist.
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