Articles about Energy
Russell Craig – CTO Microsoft New Zealand – Discusses with David Spratt at Total Utilities the cost and business case for Sustainability.
A recent Microsoft report on New Zealand’s sustainability performance shows that more than three quarters of NZ businesses now have carbon reduction plans and policies. But that’s where the green wave crashes into a wall – and uncertainty about costs is a major factor.
According to Microsoft’s ‘Accelerating the Journey to Net Zero’ report, two related reasons stand out as to why businesses are failing to meet their targets. One is that businesses are unsure how to monitor their emissions, giving them no clear baseline or way to chart their progress. The other is cost. But as...
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The Tragedy of the Commons and why we should learn from it.
Part Three of Planet Spratt’s Journey to Sustainability
The tragedy of the commons is an economic problem in which every individual has an incentive to consume a resource, but at the expense of every other individual—with no way to exclude anyone from consuming. Initially it was formulated by asking what would happen if every shepherd, acting in their own self-interest, allowed their flock to graze on the common field. If everybody does act in their apparent own best interest, it results in harmful over-consumption (all the grass is eaten, to the detriment of...
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Knowledge is power with Total Utilities Market Commentary
Staying ahead in business is often about being the first, being the best or doing something that no-one else has thought about.
But being the best demands an ability to gather accurate, independent and reliable information in an increasingly complex world.
Total Utilities Market Commentary will help provide you with all the insights and tools you need to take immediate steps to get the very best deal on your utility prices, while simultaneously leading the way with sustainability best practice. We collate market research and trends to help you navigate volatile energy markets and...
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New Zealand committed to 50% at COP26
The COP26 summit brought governments together in Sept 2021 to discuss accelerated actions towards the goals of the Paris Agreement (2015), which is an international treaty signed by 196 participating member states at COP21 in Paris, 2015. It aims to keep the global average temperature at ‘well below’ 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels, ideally 1.5 degrees, to strengthen the ability to adapt to climate change, and build resilience; align all finance flows with, ‘a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions, and climate-resilient development’.
New Zealand has signed up to...
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Central Otago’s fully electric, zero emission cherry orchard.
Total Utilities helped Forest Lodge save money, gain real-time data visibility, and prove their net-zero emission claims to grant providers. All to drive sustainable growth and set an example for food producers around the world.
Why they needed us
Forest Lodge Orchard, a high-density cherry orchard in Cromwell, New Zealand, has gone fully electric with a hybrid solar and battery system tied to the grid. Owner-operator Mike Casey supports the national grid by exporting power at peak times. He also aims to provide an example of how an agricultural site can electrify...
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PowerRadar™ helps reduce capital expenditures and increases storage capacity at a 40-hectare commercial water port
As the southernmost commercial deep-water port in New Zealand, South Port NZ worked with Total Utilities to implement Centrica Business Solutions’ Panoramic Power™ technology – avoiding costly upgrade projects and increasing available storage capacity.
80% increase in container storage days compared to previous year10mins to collect data from 51 revenue meters across site$600k savings from avoided capital project expenses (USD)
Increasing capacity of available on-site storage
South Port NZ is a deep-water port on a 40-hectare Island located in Bluff, New Zealand,...
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Case Study: Energy Contracts are never as simple as just getting a price.
Total Utilities is New Zealand’s largest issuer of business-to-business energy procurement tenders, providing energy purchasing services to many household names. With around 500 tenders issued to the market every year, getting favourable terms is crucial. But negotiating energy contracts is so much more than getting a great price. It involves an understanding of the many moving parts.
Total-Utilities-Electric-Procurement-Case-StudyDownload
The variables that influence retail energy prices are:
GEOGRAPHICAL
New Zealand’s population is dispersed over a large land area,...
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What’s happening with New Zealand’s Natural Gas and Decarbonisation Markets?
All businesses need electricity. All people in a modern society like ours need electricity. The trouble lies in finding balance between combatting climate change and generating enough electricity to sustain our population.
We all know and understand the importance of decarbonizing given the ominous challenge posed to us by climate change globally. But, New Zealand is a small, remote country which only accounts for 1/15th of 1% of the world’s population of 7.5 billion.
New Zealand’s electricity and natural gas markets are inextricably inter-linked. Electricity and gas compete as...
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Case Study: A local big box retail chain cuts energy waste
A New Zealand retail chain is reaching its sustainable business goals and cutting costs with an intelligent energy insights tool.
Big Box Retail Case Study...
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Energy Pricing is changing fast. How Total Utilities helps you adjust.
By 2050, the government has pledged to eliminate emissions of long-lived greenhouse gases, and to reduce biogenic methane emissions by between 24-47%. This means energy pricing is changing fast! While this is good news for the environment, it requires business to make some major adjustments.
Let's look at the impact of these changes and then the solutions that are available to you.
Decline in gas production drives an increase in price
New Zealand’s main gas field has been experiencing production issues since 2018. This year, their production is already down by 42%.
This...
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