NZ's Energy Productivity Lagging Behind Global Competitors

17 DECEMBER 2015

New Zealand’s Energy Productivity Lagging Behind Global Competitors

New Zealand businesses needs to take strong action to lift energy productivity performance or risk falling far behind competitor countries, say energy management experts.

Ewan Gebbie, Executive Office of the Energy Management Association of New Zealand (EMANZ), said while most major economies are considering or have implemented energy productivity targets, New Zealand’s performance has been tailing off since 2007.

EMANZ will be focusing strongly on the issue in its 2016 flagship energy conference: Energy Productivity and Partnerships – The Next Energy (R)evolution.

“New Zealand’s performance does not compare well to a number of other OECD countries,” said Mr Gebbie. “For instance Australia has set a national target of lifting energy productivity by 40 per cent by 2030 and the US of doubling it in the same timeframe.

“Most major economies have recognised the importance of focussing policy efforts on improving energy productivity and set national targets. Germany has a policy of improving 2.1 per cent per annum on average by 2020 and Sweden has significantly lifted its performance since 2010.

“New Zealand’s current rate of energy productivity improvement, of 1.18 per cent per annum, is lower than many of our competitors , and our competitors are implementing policies that will increase the gap. “

The EMANZ conference, to be held in Auckland in May, will bring a strong New Zealand focus to the energy challenges facing the world in the context of energy use and global warming.

“With the Climate Change Accord now signed, the focus needs to shift to how countries will deliver on agreed targets”, said Mr Gebbie.

“New Zealand cannot afford to continue to drag its feet over this. We will be looking specifically at the challenges related to driving increased energy productivity and the opportunities this presents for local businesses.

“We will be showcasing advanced industries that are already partnering locally and globally with huge success. There are Kiwi businesses and industries that are leading the world in driving energy productivity and are willing to share their know-how to enable other New Zealand businesses to turn international energy challenges into a real competitive advantage.”

At the conference, policymakers and practitioners will share their experience on what has and hasn’t worked in the service and partnership space within energy management and other industries. International keynote speakers will add a global perspective as delegates learn about the different ways Energy Productivity and Partnerships will contribute to the Next Energy Revolution and impact on businesses and the wider New Zealand economy.

“The conference will enable attendees to understand energy productivity at a macro and micro level with over 30 international and local speakers sharing their views, research, case studies, and experience from throughout the productivity and energy sector,” said Mr Gebbie.

“The Paris Climate Accord has brought the importance of energy productivity into clear focus and, with the exciting opportunities this presents, we are expecting this to be a well attended conference that generates some fascinating discussion and exciting opportunities.”

ENDS

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