The development of the Southland Murihiku Regional Energy Strategy 2022 - 2050 is a partnership between the Southland Regional Development Agency (Great South) and Murihiku Regeneration (a collaboration between the four Murihiku Papatipu Rūnanga who are working together to advance their collective aspirations). The project is being managed by Great South with guidance from the Southland Regional Energy Strategy Project Advisory Group. Early investigation has shown that there will be unprecedented demand for renewable energy over the coming years to support decarbonisation, new industry investment and transport fuel constraints. The southern regions of New Zealand have some of the highest commercial wind resources available in the country as well as other renewable generation opportunities. Some of these projects are already deemed commercially viable now, and commitments to new generation investment in projects such as the Kaiwera Downs wind farm are expected in Q3 2022.
The aim of this Strategy is to focus on all forms of energy, including electricity, biomass, biogenic methane, transport fuels and alternative multi-mode transport options such as electricity-based transport for land, sea and air as well as transport mode shift to low carbon or no carbon options. Energy efficiency, emissions reduction, decarbonisation, sequestration opportunities for existing industry, greenhouse gas capture and use, will all contribute to a credible regional Climate Change Response. The Strategy will need to identify new energy generation opportunities, transmission infrastructure and energy systems resilience. It will also focus on ‘Energy in the Landscape,’ identifying energy generation opportunities that are in keeping with the natural and cultural environment. A range of associated opportunities relating to distributed generation, technology, cleantech, improvements to building energy standards, air quality improvements as well as skills development opportunities will be required to be canvassed in the Strategy. The Strategy will be a critical piece of regional work that will inform regional spatial planning and regulatory planning processes as well as identify future investment and energy options for decarbonisation. It is hoped that opportunities identified in the Strategy will be incorporated into these existing or new regulatory planning frameworks.
