This How to Guide from Ara Ake, Aotearoa New Zealand’s future energy centre, helps communities set up and implement energy projects that improve equitable access to low-emissions, lower-cost energy.
Drawing on the expertise of close to 100 contributors, it gives a step-by-step breakdown of the process – from identifying stakeholders and iwi, to developing a vision and building community engagement, through to finance and contract options, connecting to the grid, and selling excess electricity.
The overarching mission of Ara Ake is to accelerate the commercialisation and deployment of clean energy and facilitate demand-driven climate solutions in New Zealand. It is currently collaborating with Climate Connect Aotearoa to help Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland meet its target of halving its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
The first Ara Ake / CCA joint challenge is to investigate community energy-sharing initiatives that have the potential to enable equitable outcomes – ultimately removing barriers to solar power investment and uptake, and reducing energy hardship for New Zealanders.