The Government is seeking feedback on a programme of work to transition New Zealand towards a low emissions economy including an interim hydrogen roadmap for sectors like heavy transport.
As well as hydrogen, the consultation includes a plan for the gas industry, offshore renewable energy development, market measures to make sure electricity is reliable and affordable and implementing the Emissions Reduction Plan.
Submissions will be used to develop a final hydrogen roadmap, gas transition plan, offshore renewable regulatory regime, identify priority electricity market measures and support implementation of Government’s commitment to ban new fossil fuel baseload electricity generation, as well as support the development of the New Zealand Energy Strategy by the end of 2024.
“The future of energy in New Zealand is renewable. We will phase out fossil fuels and replace them with clean energy,” energy and resources minister Megan Woods says.
“This will give New Zealand a leading economic edge as people demand more sustainability in the products and services they buy, and help New Zealand meet its climate change commitments.”
Interim hydrogen roadmap
The Interim Hydrogen Roadmap is seeking feedback on the opportunities and trade-offs for hydrogen in New Zealand’s energy transition, and the proposed role government could play in supporting it.
Green hydrogen could play a role in decarbonising hard to abate activities like industrial processes and in heavy transport (e.g. heavy road freight, marine transport and aviation), alongside other energy sources like electrification and bioenergy.
The Interim Roadmap includes actions to:
- Establish a public-private body to help coordinate activity between government, the sector and other interested organisations
- Undertake regulatory work focused on enabling safe basic operation of key hydrogen equipment and activities
- Initiatives recently announced in Budget 2023 to provide up to $100 million over ten years for the Regional Hydrogen Transition initiative, a rebate to hydrogen consumers targeted at supporting a just transition, as well as $30 million over three years for a clean heavy vehicles grant.
*Go to mbie.govt.nz/ourenergyfuture for more information.
