ENERGY

ABB study shows New Zealand industries step up to lead Asia Pacific’s energy transition

Independent study commissioned by ABB reveals that 77% of New Zealand business leaders in key industries are allocating over 10% of their capital expenditure to energy transition initiatives over the next five years. Technological advancement identified as a top driver of the energy transition, with 67% citing it as having the greatest potential to accelerate progress. New Zealand’s high share of renewable electricity – around 85%, mainly from hydropower, geothermal and wind energy – gives it a strong foundation to lead the Asia-Pacific region in decarbonisation. The ABB Asia Pacific Energy Transition Readiness Index 2025 in collaboration with Sandpiper Research and Insights has surveyed close to 4,100 business, IT, and sustainability leaders responsible for technology, electrification and automation strategies across 12 markets in Asia Pacific – Australia, Mainland China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The respondents are drawn from key industries including property & infrastructure, chemicals & refining, data centres, energy & power generation, industry & manufacturing, steelmaking, machinery & mining, pharmaceutical & life sciences, oil & gas, transportation, and water & waste solutions. A key finding was that Kiwi companies are investing heavily in clean energy, automation and digitalisation. Anders Maltesen, President of ABB Energy Industries Asia, says, “New Zealand’s high share of renewable electricity – around 85%, mainly from hydropower, geothermal and wind energy – gives it a strong foundation to lead the Asia-Pacific region in electrification and decarbonisation. But to meet net-zero by 2050, electricity use must increase by over 60%, and that means there’s urgency to scaling smart technologies and modernising ageing infrastructure.” Business is increasing green investment, and geopolitics is an opportunity to lead More than 200 respondents were surveyed from New Zealand and the findings show that 77% (73% regionally) are allocating over 10% of […]

Hydrogen electric flight prepares for lift off in New Zealand

Stralis Aircraft, Fabrum and Ara Ake are collaborating to advance hydrogen-powered aviation by designing, developing and testing liquid-hydrogen storage tanks and a fuel system for Stralis aircraft. The partnership aims to enable Australasia’s first liquid-hydrogen-powered flight – and support the transition toward zero-emission aviation. Australian company Stralis Aircraft, which develops high-performance, low-operating-cost hydrogen-electric propulsion systems, will integrate Fabrum’s tanks and fuel system into its aircraft. New Zealand company Fabrum, which specialises in zero-emission transition technology, will provide lightweight composite tanks and dispensing systems, essential enablers for hydrogen-powered aircraft. The project is supported by Ara Ake, New Zealand’s future energy centre, and aligns with Fabrum’s recently announced hydrogen testing facility at Christchurch International Airport. “Our hydrogen liquefier provides readily available liquid hydrogen onsite, allowing the capability to access the critical fuel source to prove and test the tanks and fuel system we are developing for Stralis and their fixed-wing fuel-cell electric aircraft,” said Christopher Boyle, Managing Director of Fabrum. “With Ara Ake support, we are excited to be delivering our light-weight composite tanks and fuel system for Stralis to advance the future of hydrogen-powered flight.” The collaboration also aims to strengthen industry ties between New Zealand and Australia. The project will build expertise in liquid-hydrogen storage refuelling, and aircraft integration, contributing to New Zealand’s growing role in hydrogen aviation. In the picture: Ara Ake CE Cristiano Marantes (middle) with Stralis co-founder and CEO Bob Criner and co-founder and CTO Stuart Johnstone. “This project is a strong example of Ara Ake’s role in connecting leading organisations across countries to advance real-world clean energy solutions,” said Cristiano Marantes, CEO of Ara Ake. “By enabling this initiative, we’re supporting the first hydrogen-electric demonstration with liquid hydrogen and positioning New Zealand as a global testbed for sustainable aviation innovation.” Stralis’ fuel-cell technology is significantly lighter […]

Energy efficiency: a bright way to power up your savings!

From NZ Manufacturer magazine March 2025 www.nzmanufacturer.co.nz NZ Manufacturer March 25 by Media Hawkes Bay Limited – Issuu -Insa Errey, Advisor to NZ Manufacturer, Genesis, Senior Manager Future Fuels. Energy efficiency is increasingly becoming a key factor to drive cost reductions, especially in the manufacturing sector. As manufacturers seek ways to remain competitive and reduce operational expenses, energy costs should become the primary target for cost-cutting measures. By improving how energy is used, it can reduce bills, boost productivity, and contribute to long-term sustainability. The Link Between Energy Efficiency and Costs In manufacturing energy cost can account for up to 20% of total operational expenses, these costs can vary depending on the industry and the energy intensity of the product. Energy costs, in many cases, are second only to labour in terms of operational spending. Leading to improving energy efficiency delivering substantial financial benefits. Energy efficiency involves the reduction of energy consumption without compromising output or quality. The savings generated from these measures can translate directly into reduced operational costs and higher profit margins. Significant savings can be realised with low to no cost process optimisation. While other opportunities may involve initial investment which can seem significant, the return on investment (ROI) is often reached quickly through reduced energy costs. Global insights from the International Energy Agency (IEA) show that in some industries, energy efficiency projects can pay for themselves in as little as 2-3 years. Beyond immediate savings, energy efficiency improvements can provide long-term financial benefits. Energy efficiency can help mitigate the impact of rising energy prices, making it easier for manufacturers to predict future costs and avoid unexpected increases in energy expenses. Even small reductions in energy costs can make a big difference to the bottom line. Another consideration is that energy efficiency can also provide […]

Matter: The Magnificent Illusion -1st Edition

by Guido Tonelli What are we made up of? What holds material bodies together? Is there a difference between terrestrial matter and celestial matter – the matter that makes up the Earth and the matter that makes up the Sun and other stars? When Democritus stated, between the fifth and fourth centuries BCE, that we are made up of atoms, few people believed him. Not until Galileo and Newton in the seventeenth century did people take the idea seriously, and it was another four hundred years before we could reconstruct the elementary components of matter. Everything around us – the matter that forms rocks and planets, flowers and stars, even us – has very particular properties.These properties, which seem quite normal to us, are in fact very special, because the universe, whose evolution began almost fourteen billion years ago, is today a very cold environment. In this book, Guido Tonelli explains how elementary particles, which make up matter, combine into bizarre shapes to form correlated quantum states, primordial soups of quarks and gluons, or massive neutron stars. New questions that have emerged from the most recent research are answered: in what sense is the vacuum a material state? Why can space-time also vibrate and oscillate? Can elementary grains of space and time exist? What forms does matter assume inside large black holes? In clear and lively prose, Tonelli takes readers on an exhilarating journey into the latest discoveries of contemporary science, enabling them to see the universe, and themselves, in a new light.

How your business can benefit from the circular economy

From September issue of NZ Manufacturer www.nzmanufacturer.co.nz Small Business and Manufacturing Minister Andrew Bayly, along with Climate Change Minister Simon Watts, introduced a new MBIE report showing circular opportunities for the manufacturing sector. “Manufacturing is a sleeping giant for New Zealand’s economy; with the right tools and support, manufacturing has the potential to supercharge our economic growth,” Bayly said. “The manufacturing sector accounts for 10 per cent of GDP, 60 per cent of our exports, and employs 230,000 people.” Increasing demand for low-carbon-manufactured goods “Globally there is increasing demand for low-carbon manufactured products. Our agile and innovative manufacturers with their strong green reputation and access to relatively low-carbon electricity are well positioned to take advantage of this demand,” he added. Watts emphasises that the manufacturing sector is already heading in the right direction and is supporting New Zealand in meeting its climate change targets. However, there is still more to be done. “That’s why we are providing manufacturers with information to support them to adapt their business to be less carbon-intensive, with the launch of a new online toolbox, report and dataset.” Circular economy critical for future of manufacturing The circular economy is critical component of modern manufacturing. Adopting circular economy principles can help you to significantly reduce costs while making your business more sustainable. The circular economy (CE) is a concept that changes how we produce and consume goods. It uses systems thinking to design out waste and pollution, keep products and materials in use and regenerate natural systems. CE moves us away from the current ‘linear’ model of producing and consuming goods and services: ‘take-make-dispose’. It has economic, environmental and social benefits. It is also closely linked to the Bioeconomy, which uses renewable biological resources to produce food, products, and energy. […]

Reducing manufacturing emissions

Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister of Manufacturing Manufacturing is a significant sector for New Zealand. It employs 230,000 people and accounts for nearly 10 per cent of GDP and 60 per cent of exports. I often describe it as a “sleeping giant” for New Zealand’s economy, because its significance is not well understood. When I travel around the country promoting the manufacturing sector, one of the things I often remind people is that a career in manufacturing is a career in a highly advanced, technical field. A lesser-known fact is that approximately a quarter of all New Zealand’s business-led research and development comes from the manufacturing sector, meaning manufacturing is a key driver of innovation. However, to support this innovation, manufacturers need the right tools and resources. I know from talking to manufacturers that access to information and expert guidance on how to upskill and improve productivity is challenging. Which is why I was delighted to recently launch a set of tools to help empower manufacturers to grow their business and reduce their emissions. Emissions and waste mapping The first is a report that identifies and maps the manufacturing sector’s emissions and waste patterns. Titled ‘Mapping Emissions and Waste Stream Profiles, and Opportunities for Achieving Net-Zero Circular Advanced Manufacturing’, the report is based on waste and emissions data from 2019 (the most recent data available). It provides a comprehensive picture of waste, emissions, and opportunities to improve sustainability across the seven main manufacturing subsectors: food and beverage, machinery and equipment, other manufacturing, metal and metal products, chemicals and refining, wood and paper, and plastics and rubber. The report details challenges and opportunities for the sector with a goal of helping manufacturers identify opportunities to adopt low-emissions technology and increase circular manufacturing practices which, in turn, will help us reduce our […]

Harnessing the Power of Biogas: A Sustainable Opportunity for Industrial Manufacturing

From February issue of NZ Manufacturer -By Insa Errey While renewable energy has been making strides in various sectors, the potential of biogas in revolutionising industrial manufacturing remains largely untapped in New Zealand. This article explores the opportunities and benefits of exploring the opportunities of biogas in industrial processes. Biogas production involves the anaerobic digestion of organic materials such as agricultural residues, food waste, and wastewater. This process utilises microorganisms to degrade the organic material into methane. A byproduct from anaerobic digestion is digestate which can be utilised as biofertilisers. Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Biogas utilisation has multiple advantage in reducing a site’s greenhouse gas emission. First, anaerobic digestion prevents the release of methane—a potent greenhouse gas—into the atmosphere. By capturing and utilising methane as biogas, greenhouse gas emissions from waste decomposition can be reduced. Secondly, biogas can be cleaned, known as green gas or biomethane. It can be used directly in on-site as process heat, reducing the need to purchase the required gas for heating from external parties and offering a cleaner alternative with lower carbon emissions. Waste Valorisation: The industrial sector generates substantial amounts of organic waste from processing residues that can end up in landfills or council wastewater treatment facilities. Biogas production provides a valuable solution by converting these waste materials into valuable energy and fertiliser resources. This waste valorisation not only reduces the environmental impact but also promotes a circular economy approach within the manufacturing process. Producing certified biofertiliser can contribute to increasing food production. Cost-Effective Energy Source: Biogas can serve as a cost-effective energy source for industrial manufacturing. By harnessing locally available organic waste, sites can create a steady and reliable source of useable energy, reducing dependence on traditional fossil fuels. Energy Independence: Most manufacturing sites rely heavily on external energy sources, making them […]

Navigating energy intensity and energy efficiency in manufacturing

-By Insa Errey In advanced manufacturing, the concepts of energy intensity and energy efficiency play crucial roles in influencing both operational costs and emissions profile. While both terms are interconnected, they represent distinct parts of energy management. Understanding these dynamics is crucial as businesses seek to balance production demands with the imperative of sustainable energy use. Energy Intensity in Manufacturing: A Measure of Production Impact Energy intensity is a measure of the energy consumed per unit of output, such as the energy required to produce a certain quantity of goods. Typically expressed in terms of energy units per unit of physical output. Energy intensity provides insight into the overall energy consumption patterns within a manufacturing facility. High energy intensity in manufacturing suggests that significant energy resources are being used to manufacture a product. High energy intensive processes may use a disproportionate amount of energy to achieve their production goals, signalling inefficiencies that can impact both costs and emissions. On the other hand, low energy intensity indicates a more efficient use of energy resources. Trending this even monthly will enable visibility of process operations, signalling if processes are running differently and have shifted. Energy Efficiency: Improving Manufacturing Practices Energy efficiency, on the other hand, focuses on optimising the utilisation of energy inputs to maximise output. It is the ratio of useful energy out to the total energy in. In manufacturing, energy efficiency measures the effectiveness of processes in converting energy resources into final products, emphasizing the opportunities to reduce loss and waste. Energy efficiency in manufacturing involves optimising processes and technologies to minimise energy consumption while maintaining or enhancing productivity. Improving energy efficiency in this context includes adopting advanced machinery, implementing effective energy management systems, and embracing best practices. Often invest is required such as conducting energy audits, energy transition plans […]

AoFrio named winner in BIER’s global ‘The Cool Challenge’

Paving the way for a more sustainable commercial refrigeration industry AoFrio, a global technology company headquartered in New Zealand, has been named the winner of the ‘Incremental Change in Energy efficiency’ category at The Cool Challenge, an initiative led by the Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable (BIER). This achievement marks an important milestone for AoFrio, a global leader in creating and manufacturing cutting-edge and sustainable Internet of Things (IoT) solutions and high efficiency motors for commercial refrigeration. BIER is a coalition of leading global beverage companies working together to advance environmental sustainability within the beverage sector. Its new initiative, The Cool Challenge, invited innovators to revolutionise commercial refrigeration related to chilled, canned, or bottled beverages at their point of sale, and shape a sustainable future for the industry. AoFrio entered the ‘Incremental Change in Energy efficiency’ category, which required applicants to present solutions which optimise energy efficiency by leveraging existing compressor technology and pushing boundaries. Entries were judged by global sustainability leads amongst the likes of Heineken, AB InBev, and Coca-Cola. AoFrio received the win for its solution ‘AoFrio Inside’, which showcased the energy efficiency savings its customers can achieve if they implement the breadth of its hardware and SaaS offering in their coolers. AoFrio can reduce its customers’ energy-use by an average of 54% when compared to a basic cooler of the same capacity*. AoFrio Inside is a complete refrigeration solution that combines the best of hardware, software, and cloud-based services – it includes the following: AoFrio ECR 2 motor – a high-efficiency motor that uses significantly less power than shaded pole motors, saving energy and money. AoFrio SCS controller – a smart IoT controller that connects your cooler to the AoFrio ecosystem and enables you to monitor and control the cooler’s temperature, locations, sales, power consumption, and operational effectiveness. […]

Carbon emissions on the way down

Robert McLachlan, Professor in Applied Mathematics, Massey University. Ian Mason, Adjunct Senior Fellow in Renewable Energy Systems Engineering, University of Canterbury. It may have been largely overlooked in the election debates, but New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions are finally on the way down. Annual emissions of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels are the lowest since 1999 and the 12-month renewable share of electricity is back above 90% for the first time since 1981. The Ministry for the Environment has advised New Zealand is on track to meet the first (2022-2025) carbon budget. All this can be attributed to a range of factors, including fossil gas running low, full hydro lakes, high petrol prices and working from home. But climate policies such as the Emissions Trading Scheme (NZ ETS), the clean car discount and the Climate Emergency Response Fund (CERF) have made a significant contribution to the turnaround. Current decarbonisation policies have and will continue to deliver real emissions cuts, provided they remain in place. It is therefore disconcerting that the National Party plans to take $2.3 billion from the CERF (almost two-thirds of the fund’s mid-2022 balance) to pay for tax cuts. The argument that individual households will use tax cuts to make their own decarbonisation decisions is unsupported by evidence and lacks credibility. The Labour Party has also dipped into this fund, taking $236 million to pay for rebates for household installations of solar panels and batteries, and community energy schemes. These may produce some as yet unquantified emissions cuts. Government funding is working Allocations from the Government Investment in Decarbonising Industry (GIDI) fund to NZ Steel and Fonterra show direct and measurable avoidance of emissions. The installation of an electric furnace at NZ Steel to utilise scrap will save 1% (800,000 tonnes of CO₂-equivalent emissions, or tCO₂e) of New Zealand’s 2021 gross emissions. Support for Fonterra […]

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