We’re committed to Aotearoa’s transition to net zero emissions by 2050. We’re preparing our networks for emerging technologies and low carbon alternatives, and we’re reducing our emissions by improving our ways of working. 

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  • carbon

    Contributing to a lower carbon world

    Goals and targets

    Here's what we want to achieve for Pou taiao over the short, medium and long-term. 

    Goals and targets FY24

    • Develop a comprehensive decarbonisation roadmap for the electricity network with early actions in place during FY24.   
    • Develop decarbonisation solution offerings for large customers.  
    • Reduce carbon emissions from our vehicle fleet by 15%.
    • Set a business-wide, ambitious emission reduction target and plan.
    • Set up a streamlined process for connecting Electric Vehicle charging points.
    • Update Powerco's low carbon transition strategy for the 2023 Gas Asset Management Plan.
    • Determine the optimal blend and volumes of low carbon gas for the gas network.

     

    • Halve the average connection time for Electric Vehicle chargers to be installed on the Powerco network.
    • Set up a streamlined process for utility scale solar (1 MW or more) and conditionally approve 200MW of distributed energy connections.

     

    • Develop alternatives to remote diesel generation units such as biofuel, battery storage and small-scale hydrogen generation possibilities.
    • 20% reduction in natural gas volumes going through the network by 2030 (compared to FY20) and identify specific year on year volume reductions for FY25-FY30.
    • Reduce and offset our target emissions of scope 1 and 2, excluding line losses by 2030.
  • carbon

    Contributing to a lower carbon world

    What we've done FY23

    We’ve been making progress towards our pou whirinaki goals and targets. Here’s what we worked on between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023

    What we’ve done FY23

    • A North Island boiler review was completed by partnering with EECA and DETA to identify large customers (or groups of customers) to quantify the scale of customer decarbonisation opportunities.  The results were used to inform Powerco’s 2023 Asset Management Plan.
    • Powerco's latest greenhouse gas inventory report is disclosed here. The FY23 report will be available later in 2023.
    • An investigation of science aligned emission reduction targets was undertaken in FY23. Alignment with science for specific emissions sources will be agreed with the business in FY24.
    • We understand the emissions profiles required to achieve the science aligned targets and are currently assessing the financial impacts of specific reduction initiatives. 
    • The small-scale connection process has been streamlined, but not yet fully automated.
    • No formal microgrids are yet in place. We are, however, actively working on various initiatives to reduce grid demand with distributed generation.
    • The Gas Asset Management Plan includes a section that outlines the low carbon strategy for the gas network. Learn more
    • An assessment of pipeline materials was completed with no compatibility issues identified for distributing low carbon gas. Standards are now being assessed to incorporate renewable gas.  System capacity is still to be assessed as renewable gas options are identified.
    • We are currently supporting over 50 (>1GW) solar farm enquiries.  A dedicated role to manage customers wanting to install large distributed generation (DG) was established, and an updated DG policy and technical connection standard have been initiated.  
    • During FY23, we continued with our vehicle fleet conversion and consolidated office locations. We’ve also improved our processes for measuring SF6 to aid with emissions reporting.  An emissions reduction strategy will be developed in FY24 to address our target emissions.
    • During FY23, the business developed and agreed our four climate change scenarios.  These will be used as part of our climate change risk assessments within the roadmap for climate reporting in FY24. 
    • Some preliminary work on our emissions reduction (including diesel and SF6 alternatives) was undertaken but no viable option is currently available.
    • An Energy Solutions team was established to support our customers with large decarbonisation projects.
    • A basis for long-term planning and strategy has been developed to evolve the electricity network to support customer driven renewable generation and energy trading.  This includes managing the pipeline of customer-driven renewable generation applications.
    • Our target of 20% reduction on natural gas volumes going through the network by 2030 (compared to FY20), will be achieved through the introduction of renewable gas alternatives and improved efficiency of gas customers.  Specific reduction targets will be set for FY25 – FY30 based on New Zealand’s gas transition strategy.
     
  • carbon

    Contributing to a lower carbon world

    What we've done FY22

    We’ve been making progress towards our pou whirinaki goals and targets. Here’s what we worked on between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2022

    What we’ve done FY22

    • In collaboration with First Gas, hydrogen trials are underway to help us understand our readiness to use hydrogen on our current gas network. During FY22, we planned network and customer equipment surveys for the Waverley pipeline. This will continue during FY23.
    • We committed to voluntarily reporting on our climate risks and opportunities based on the Task Force on Climate Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) Framework. We undertook an independent review of our current progress and developed a roadmap for the next 1-3 years. 
    • Our immediate focus is on reducing our greenhouse gas emissions. During FY22, we developed our offsetting principles which not only prioritises carbon offsetting, but also the additional value this project can have for our partners, stakeholders, tangata whenua and the wider community we serve.
    • The ongoing implementation of our vehicle fleet electrification plan has started to replace diesel vehicles with electric and hybrid vehicles and reduced our overall fleet number. A small reduction in emissions was obtained due to office consolidation.  We anticipate further efficiencies in FY23.
    • We are continuing to assess the capability of the network to ensure it is ready for increased distributed energy and improving our visibility on the low voltage network.  We’re also working on improving our application process for new small solar connections. 
    • Our collaboration trials with First Gas will help us understand the long-term feasibility of hydrogen as an alternative to natural gas.
     
    • Our overall emissions decreased from FY21. Although there was an increase in scope 1 emissions mainly due to increased diesel generator use and SF6 leakage, emissions decreased from our vehicles, purchased electricity, and ,electricity and gas  network losses. Our reporting accuracy increased for scope three with the inclusion of purchased goods and services.
    • A low carbon roadmap is being developed that aligns to the NZ Government’s emissions reduction plan. This is due FY23.
    • The building of an automated application process for both small and large-scale solar connections will reduce the levels of manual work in the current application process. This is due for completion during FY23.
    • The exploration of carbon offsets for our gas customers was deprioritised to instead focus on other Taiao targets with a greater environmental benefit such as future low carbon gas alternatives.

Empowering solar

Our target: to support distributed and renewable generation by enabling our customers' use of solar panels, batteries, and electric vehicles.

Our mahi: we successfully connected Kāpuni solar farm to our electricity network. Kāpuni is able to power more than 520 homes.

Learn more

The pillars of our work