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Instead of squabbling about golf courses and gravel, Sir Ian Taylor says politicians need to focus on the solutions being developed in New Zealand right now that can reduce emissions and grow the economy. He points to Mike Casey's all-electric orchard to show that going electric is "cheaper. It’s cleaner. And it’s proof that the transition from fossil fuels to electric isn’t theoretical" and Rewiring Aotearoa's research showing that electric machines and solar makes financial sense.
As he wrote:
As we did in geothermal energy, New Zealand also once led the world in electrification.
We built the world’s first fully electric house, powered by renewable hydropower [picture above]. Reefton, on the West Coast, was the second town in the world with electric street lighting, just weeks after Paris became the first. We also built the first transmission line in the Southern Hemisphere.
But today, more than 70% of our energy supply comes from imported fossil fuels, costing New Zealand consumers $55 million a day. Most of which goes offshore.
It doesn’t have to be this way. Mike Casey and Rewiring Aotearoa have put together a powerful case for the electrification of Aotearoa. It began with the world’s first fully electric cherry orchard, which runs on 21 electric machines powered by solar energy. It’s cheaper. It’s cleaner. And it’s proof that the transition from fossil fuels to electric isn’t theoretical. It works now!
His research team has shown how solar energy, scaled nationally on our houses, businesses and farms, would significantly lower the energy costs of the country, whilst at the same time saving billions in overseas spending on fossil fuels.
Combined with the potential from supercritical geothermal, New Zealand could, once again, be a world leader. Embracing the opportunities around climate change and sustainability.
All we need is political vision and courage.
New South Wales gets the memo about the importance of finance and announces scheme offering zero interest loans to households to upgrade to electric stuff; plug-in solar gets the tick of approval to go on sale in the UK soon and the New York Times says it could 'change America'; EVolocity takes electrification to the streets to gets the kids inspired (and eventually employed); a tour of the amazing recycling business Redwood Materials; Think Solar and BYD give it away now; and a skit that cuts close to the bone for many solar dads.
Read moreDownloadAdvances in technology and falling costs mean customer-owned solar and batteries can play a critical role in New Zealand’s energy infrastructure - improving affordability, resilience and sustainability. Multiple trading relationships (MTR) and peer-to-peer trading would enable this potential by increasing competition, customer choice, and innovation in the electricity market, unlocking greater consumer benefits from customer solar and batteries.
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