Power Innovation Pathway

Tranche 1 Pathway initiatives

We're providing enhanced regulatory support to eight high-value initiatives in Tranche 1 of the Power Innovation Pathway. These projects strongly align with our strategic outcomes and aim to reduce regulatory barriers for all market participants, unlocking value for the electricity system and consumers.

Meet the innovators

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Meet the innovators driving change and learn how we are supporting them through the Power Innovation Pathway.

Franklin energy sharing pilot

This pilot shows a new approach to peer-to-peer energy trading, enabling excess solar-generated energy to be donated to local charities to support whānau experiencing hardship.

Demand side flexibility pilot

Queenstown Electrification Accelerator

Powering change

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Explore these case studies to learn about the Tranche 1 Pathway initiatives driving benefits for the electricity system and consumers.

Supporting our strategic outcomes

The Tranche 1 Pathway initiatives strongly align with our strategic outcomes to achieve a secure and resilient, affordable and efficient electricity system for all New Zealanders.

  • A secure and resilient system - through supporting innovators to trial solutions that would encourage industry participants and flexibility service providers to offer demand response.

  • A more affordable electricity system - by trialing energy sharing in communities and showcasing how demand-side flexibility and distribution system operation can help defer network investment.

  • More efficient use of system and consumer resources - by increasing demand-side visibility and trialing coordination of distributed energy resources.

Providing enhanced support

The enhanced support we're providing to the Tranche 1 initiatives is bespoke to the innovator’s needs. It has typically involved assigning a subject matter expert, or experts, from the Authority to work with the project.

Examples of enhanced regulatory support provided include:

  • providing specific support to help innovators understand certain clauses or parts of the Electricity Industry Participation Code 2010
  • supporting the scoping of a trial to ensure the project’s outcomes inform regulatory activities
  • acting as an observer to trials to connect the findings and perspectives to relevant Authority workstreams
  • helping identify any barriers in the Code and providing information on the process for any exemption applications that may be required.
About enhanced support

Power Innovation Pathway

Our ‘open front door’ for innovators wanting easy access to regulatory information and support.
Enter the Pathway