2010-2011 Focus

The Blueskin Energy Project is a community led project. It is also the Blueskin Resilient Communities Trust's economic project and flagship. While taking an integrated approach, the 2010-2011 strategy is to progress the community wind cluster development.

 

New Blueskin Power Website!

 

WAITATI ENERGY PROJECT/BLUESKIN ENERGY PROJECT columns provide a general log of monthly activity and place of news, from 2007 to the present.

 

"Democratising Energy" Hui, 17th June 2011

The Blueskin Resilient Communities Trust, supported by the Hikurangi Foundation, held a Hui in Blueskin Bay (at Puketeraki Marae, Karitane) on June the 17th to explore the challenges and opportunties for a more 'democratic' community energy system. A full summary of outcomes is being prepared and will be posted here in July 2011. Meanwhile, you can find PDFs of all presentations at the bottom of this page. The format of the day (and presentation titles and presenters) is set out in the list immediately below:

1. Jeanette Fitzsimons (BRCT Patron) on "Democratising Energy: the role of community energy in New Zealand's energy future"
2. Paul Fuge (Transpower) on "Transpower enabling renewable generation through and enduring National Grid"
3. Stephan Heubeck (Refit-NZ) on "Policy for a secure NZ energy future"
4. Group workshop on the national energy plan
5. Scott Willis & Chris Freear (Blueskin Resilient Communities Trust & Our Wind Limited) on "Blueskin Power and Small Wind in New Zealand"
6. Paul Atkins (National Energy Research Institute) on "Energy Futures and Blueskin Power: Posing the questions"
7. Janet Stephenson (Otago Energy Research Centre) on "Developing a taste for spinich: Co-creating NZ's energy future"
8. Greg Sise (EnergyLink) on "Our national energy market and the magical science of price scenario mapping"
9. Group workshop on community wind

NOTE: Pete Hodgeson (for Labour) and Metiria Turei (for the Greens) also attended during the day and gave informal presentations on their respective parties' positions on energy.

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Democratising Energy Draft Summary

1. Overview
Three main outcomes: A). Catalyst to establish a NZ wide team to plan to enable the government's ambition of 90% Renewable Generation by 2025 as the plan is missing from the new NZ Energy Strategy; B). Initiation of a group to devise a simple Feed-in Tariff policy suggestion for interested political and other parties prior to the election; C). General affirmation of the integrated energy path being taken at Blueskin Bay, i.e. linking the wind cluster to other community energy 'desires' such as solar hot water, PV, insulation, audits, etc - and the implications this will have for establishing Blueskin as the integrated community test zone for energy technologies and social innovation.

2. Context
The purpose of this Hui was to bring together a range of experts, community members and academics at Blueskin Bay – the site of a project to establish New Zealand’s first community controlled wind cluster – to look at the national policies and regulations around renewable energy and to use the specific example of Blueskin Power to examine challenges and opportunities.

3. Format
The general format was: A). A morning session involving three presentations (with two questions following each), then a group workshop around the ideas thrown up in the presentations; B). Lunch; C). An afternoon session with four presentations and group workshop; D). Summary and social hour. During the day Labour and Green party representatives were able to briefly present their policies on renewable energy and Feed-in Tariffs.

4. Presenters and Participants
Presenters: Jeanette Fitzsimons (BRCT patron); Paul Fuge (Customer Services Manager, Transpower); Stephan Heubeck (Refit-NZ); Scott Willis (Project Manager, BRCT); Chris Freear (Our Wind Limited and Energy Matters Limited); Paul Atkins (National Energy Research Institute); Janet Stephenson (Otago Energy Research Centre); Greg Sise (EnergyLink).
Participants: Neville Auton, Andy Barratt, Antony Deaker, Nicky Chapman, PJ Clarke, Paul Frater, Pete Hodgeson, Sofian Irsheid, Ross Johnston, Dugald MacTavish, Jinty MacTavish, Peter McDonald, Ken Mitchell, Justine Molloy, John Souter, Ben Te Aika, Richard Till, Tarsh Turner, Viv ?
Other participants: Gerard Collings, Aroha Ellison, Suzanne Ellison, Lynnaire Johnston, Worik Stanton, Metiria Turei,
Apologies: David Clark, Steve Goldthorpe, Mitchell Hayward, Sue Hensley, Carolyn Hughes, Bob Lloyd, Carl Scott, Liana Stupples, Nathan Surendran, Hamish Trolove, Michael Woodhouse.

5. Actions
•    Establish FiT policy team (in process)
•    Establish 90% renewables by 2025 plan team (in process)
•    Presentation to Political Party (to do)
•    Proposal to local runaka (to do)
•    Approach to Electricity Authority (to do)
•    Power Purchase Agreement with Local Authority (in process)
•    Establish consensus around actions from Hui participants and other participants (to do).

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!! NEWS!!Brief but important snippets:

1. Great progress in our collaboration with Our Wind Limited: on Friday the 13th of May we installed a 10 metre mast for wind testing in the Blueskin area (Porteous site). This is a significant step forward, for although we have a great deal of wind data already, now we really need site specific data to lead into development. It has begun!

 

2. On Wednesday May 11th, the Dunedin City Council made a significant and long-reaching decision (see page 5 of the Otago Daily Times, May 12th 2011). "A healthy homes programme encouraging solar heating, insulation, double glazing and other initiatives in Dunedin homes, is to be investigated by the Dunedin City Council". Councillors listened to all the submissions and acted promptly! Unless there's a gremlin in the works we will see the Nelson 'Solar Saver' model used in Dunedin as a cost neutral way to build greater household energy efficiency - soon we hope!

 

3. Inspiring talk by Dr Eric Martinot at the University of Otago's Eman seminor on the 25th of March 2011. Dr Martinot is lead author and research director emeritus of the well-known REN21 Renewable Global Status Report, an annual synthesis of the state of renewable energy worldwide. So why has investment in renewable energy easily weathered the global recession? Simply because while the cost of establishing plant is as costly, the ONGOING costs - the fuel if you like - is 'free' - renewable, unlike fossil fuels (whose costs just keep on rising...). Reports available here.

 

4. The Government has recently released its replacement New Zealand Energy Strategy (replacing the 2007 strategy that was moving towards greater emphasis on renewable energy), and incorporating the New Zealand Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy. The 40 page glossy booklet is attractive (see those 'Frocks on Bikes' we love) but is a disturbing read. It seems to have overlooked the fact that economic activity exists within the limits of the environment and its endowments we so carelesly squander. The new priority is to "Develop petroleum and mineral fuel resources" over developing renewable generation. The strategy is available from the Sustainable Cities website.

 

5. The Blueskin Resilient Communities Trust signed a Memorandum of Understanding with "Our Wind Limited" on the 9th of March 2011. This was also the official public launch of OWL, a new company with a vision of communities owning their own electricity generation, and being fully involved in the decision making.

 

 

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Background

Complacency, and the belief that low electricity prices and reliable supply will continue in our changing world is not an option. Faith in cheap fuel is equally misplaced. Some of this was brought home sharply to us all in Waitati in 2006 when floodwaters cut us off, damaged houses, infrastructure, crops and livestock. Yet it also gave us cause to celebrate the strong networks that are already in existence in the community.

Since 2007 we've been working on energy in our community. We understand now that if we don't do something, no-one else will. While the government and local authorities demonstrate a lag in their comprehension of the challenges we all face, we must act locally.

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Vision

Our vision is to facilitate a positive, healthy, secure and resilient future for Waitati, Blueskin Bay and linked communities and promote sustainable resource use. We are engaged in an active transition to a lower energy future and seek to lower our carbon footprint while developing an energy resilient system.

Mission

The Waitati Energy Project will act to strengthen Waitati and Blueskin Bay communities in the immediate, mid and long-term future, with emphasis on energy and community resilience. We acknowledge the challenges posed by climate change, peak oil and the emerging global recession. We will actively collaborate with partners who recognise the need for communities to engage in sustainable initiatives and we will seek to develop partnerships with other groups, actors and communities who share the key theme of our vision.

Objectives

1. To develop and administer projects that provide education, support and resources to maximise locally based sustainable provision of energy, food, and water.
2. To develop and administer projects that provide education, support and resources to minimise energy use, encourage healthy homes and encourage sustainable households.
3. To secure and manage funding to achieve the stated goals of the WEP, and to stimulate local sustainable economic activity.
4. To develop and maintain relationships to achieve the stated goals of the WEP.
5. To ensure community partnership in any enterprises initiated by the WEP and to aim for the most equitable use of resources.
6. To foster linkages between organisations with objectives similar to, or complementary to, the WEP’s own Vision and Objectives.
7. The WEP’s goals and activity will always remain charitable.

‘The community is not a fully fixed zone, but can include the inner Blueskin Bay (Waitati, Evansdale and Warrington) and the full Blueskin Bay (Purakaunui, Seacliff, touching Karitane). The BRCT community is also defined via the extent of the Waitati Sub-Station local electricity grid, the inter-relationships between the local sustainability groups, coastal communities to the North of Dunedin previously serviced by rail, and the emerging ‘food-shed’ expressed as food markets in the Northern Districts. Larger Blueskin Bay corresponds exactly with the southern half of our papatipu rūnaka at Karitane'.

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Action/Activities

The Blueskin Energy Project is action based. There is often a lag between what we do, and what appears on the web, as our 'virtual' action is far less important to us than what is happening on the ground (and therefore receives less attention from the bounded resource of individual volunteer's time and energy). However here is a log of action over time (month by month, in the form of WEP articles that have appeared in the Blueskin News), and below is a list of WEP activities or interests that are we're concerned with.

1. Creating Household Energy Efficiency: The WEP Retrofit Rollout and further insulation initiatives
2. Renewable Generation. Four projects on the go: Community Wind Turbine, Powerhouse Wind's 'Thinair' Proto-type, Micro Hydro and Dispersed Generation.
3. Energy Literacy: Not the normal WEP publications and activity but specific and upcoming events and actions.

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Friends and Partners

The Waitati Energy Project emerged out of a certain consensus in the community that we had to take matters into our own hands to enact positive change, and not be merely reactive. To this end we have approached and built relationships and friendships with other groups or actors (business, tertiary, government) and are constantly seeking ways to ensure we can broaden the consensus around the notion that positive action is needed. Below are the links for our friends and partners.

1. The Otago Energy Research Centre
2. Our Wind Limited
3. The Hikurangi Foundation
4. Powerhouse Wind
5. The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority
6. PowerNet Limited
7. The Centre for the Study of Agriculture, Food and Environment

 

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TRANSITION IN THE NZ CONTEXT

Around New Zealand people and communities are banding together and taking action on Energy because it is time to take action (and there's no point in waiting for the government to act). It is not easy, transforming the energy landscape, without a policy support network, but there are dynamic, passionate people with ambition and enthusiasm acting nevertheless. Just one wind cluster/solar array/etc at a time...

We want to work with other communities, learn from their experiences, and cooperate where we can to make effective change for our communities here. Below is what we hope will be an expanding list of community initiatives occuring now in New Zealand.

1. Harbour Wind Limited is an initiative at Banks Peninsula (Canturbury) seeking to establish wind generation owned by the local community, who control and get the financial benefit of generating energy from the wind on the peninsula. The lessons learned here will benefit all NZ communities working through the legal formalities for community owned and operated generation.
2. Otaki on the Kapiti Coast has an ambition to generate its own power.
3. The Wellington (Long Gully) community wind farm group is aiming to develop a site that already has resource consent.
4. The Nelson Transition Town Energy Group is working on building energy literacy and an energy culture in the Nelson area. Again, this is an important and transformative initiative: how do we become aware and open to positive change? The Energy Group provide great information on how it is actually working in their community (contact them for more information).

 

 

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Useful Links

Below is a growing list of links that we like and find useful.

• The NZ Home Energy Web is a great visual website created by Maria Callau and is packed full of useful web-based material. It combines sharp end academic research, tools, information and a great resource list in a unique and very friendly, accessible package.
• The Greenpeace Clean Energy Guide is a simple to use guide to energy companies and generation in NZ with clear information and links if you want to change suppliers.

• It's always necessary for a recharge from time to time and the Future Scenarios site developed by David Holmgren is motivational. It is a really accessible site, with clear explanations of the choices we have, while also providing valuable background, options and alternative visions.

• 350.org is an enormous worldwide grassroots movement facilitating mass action on Climate Change. The idea is to communicate via the number 350 - the amount of carbon in parts per million that we need to be at to maintain a viable life system on the planet for humans. We've already passed that point, but with concerted effort, we may get back down and stop runaway climate change.

 

Attachment	Size
Transpower_PaulFuge.pdf	2.71 MB
JeanetteFitzsimons_Blueskin.pdf	32.16 KB
FeedinTariff_Stephan.pdf	2.2 MB
PP5_JanetStephenson.ppt	1.22 MB
ElectricityMarket_Greg.pdf	773.43 KB
PaulAtkins_NERI.pdf	414.91 KB
Scott&Chris_BRCT&OWL.pdf	602.11 KB