The New Zealand Clean Energy Centre (NZ CEC), opened in May 2011, is located at Lake Taupo on New Zealand’s North Island. The Centre is a source of funds, advice, technology and services designed to accelerate the path-to-implementation for renewable energy projects, with an initial focus on geothermal and biomass projects. The building also acts as a host for offices, and as an exhibit and events centre – the latter of which were put to the test in October when the New Zealand Clean Energy Expo was held the Centre.

The NZ CEC, a non-commercial institution, received a NZ$2 million grant for its development, from the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise agency.

Accelerating renewables in NZ

The NZ CEC has been established to help accelerate the adoption of clean energy solutions in New Zealand, and plans to implement these in a number of ways, including:

Clustering clean energy companies in a collaborative environment. Stage 1 of the of NZ CEC building has office space for nine companies, while Stage 2 will double that capacity
• The building features three solar hot water systems, three micro wind turbines, two solar electric systems, a geothermal heating system, a short rotation energy crop irrigated with waste water from the building, and an electric vehicle charging station. Plans to add more demonstration technologies over the years ahead are also in place
• Providing a focal point for clean energy events, such as the New Zealand Clean Energy Expo, and acting as a public venue for conferences in a clean energy environment
• Conceiving and facilitating projects aimed at converting industrial and institutional users of fossil fuels to either biomass or geothermal energy for process heat
• Facilitating the transfer of innovative clean energy technology solutions from overseas markets into the New Zealand marketplace
• Connecting New Zealand clean energy innovators with partners, markets and funding sources
• Offering public tours, education services and independent advice on renewable energy.

Primary goals for the NZ CEC include seeing more geothermal heat being used for direct use applications and more biomass being used to displace coal or gas in industrial boilers, since biomass is renewable and carbon neutral.

The NZ CEC also hopes to awaken students of all ages to the world of clean energy, hopefully inspiring them to either pursue a career in the field, to adopt clean energy solutions as part of their future lifestyles and to encourage their parents to explore clean energy solutions.

Other goals include accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles in New Zealand and attracting existing clean energy companies, as well as innovative start-up companies to establish themselves in the Taupo region.

Outstanding energy efficiency in Taupo

The Taupo region produces 1,500 megawatts (MW) of clean energy annually, from a combination of geothermal and hydro resources. The region, however, only uses a total of 20 MW of energy annually, and all of it clean energy.

Therefore, the NZ CEC believes they are the only region in the world that can claim that all of the energy produced in the region is clean, and that they produce 75 times more clean energy than they use. By establishing the NZ CEC in Taupo, the NZ CEC aims to allow Taupo to benefit from the fastest-growing market of this century, which will therefore contribute to the economic wellbeing of the region.

Upcoming NZ CEC projects

The NZ CEC is involved in a number of projects in the near future, including:

• The launch of the Association for the Promotion of Electric Vehicles
• Exploring the potential for establishing an off-grid housing community in Taupo
• Facilitating the conversion of a meat processing plant from gas to biomass for their boiler fuel, and in the process helping them dispose of their own waste streams in an environmentally-friendly way
• Facilitating geothermal direct use projects
• Advising owners or tenants of new industrial developments that will maximise their green credentials.