by Jonathan Gardiner | Jul 22, 2024 | Energy, New Zealand Energy Certificates, News, NZ-ECs, solar power, Sustainable Business
Total Utilities is proud to announce its latest venture in the renewable energy market: expanding the sale of unbundled Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) through a partnership with Lodestone Energy.
This collaboration underscores Total Utilities’ commitment to sustainability and its
dedication to providing innovative energy solutions to a broader customer base, both now
and into the future.
RECs authenticate the production and consumption of renewable energy. They enable
businesses and individuals to offset the carbon associated with electricity consumption and support the development of new renewable energy projects, without directly utilising the energy at the source.
Positioning for Growth in REC Market
Already established as a prominent player in the renewable energy sector, Total Utilities is
now strategically positioned to meet the increasing demand for RECs and sustainable energy solutions through its partnership with Lodestone Energy.
Jonathan Gardiner, Managing Director of Total Utilities explains, “We’re excited to partner
with Lodestone to expand and enhance our renewable energy offerings. This partnership
builds upon our existing relationships with partners such as Pioneer Energy, to meet the
evolving needs of our clients.
“By integrating Lodestone into our network of REC partners, we are better equipped to
address the growing demand for sustainable solutions.”
Funding Solar development
Jonathan emphasises how purchasing RECs supplied by Lodestone through Total Utilities will contribute directly to the development of solar energy in New Zealand: “Lodestone Energy recently launched the first grid-scale solar farm in Kaitaia. By purchasing RECs supplied by them, our clients can play a pivotal role in funding further solar developments by Lodestone at that scale, directly contributing to New Zealand’s sustainability efforts.”
Furthermore, the partnership with Lodestone Energy opens up opportunities for Total
Utilities to explore new avenues of renewable energy development and expand its portfolio of sustainable energy solutions.
By leveraging Lodestone’s expertise and resources, Total Utilities aims to enhance its ability to meet the diverse needs of its clients and stay at the forefront of the renewable energy industry.
Making a Meaningful Impact
“For businesses looking to make a meaningful impact on sustainability and support the
growth of renewable energy in New Zealand, Total Utilities’ expanded offerings of RECs
provide a valuable opportunity.”
“By partnering with Total Utilities and purchasing RECs supplied by Lodestone Energy,
businesses can demonstrate their commitment to environmental stewardship and can
directly assist in bringing new renewable generation energy projects into the New Zealand market” Jonathan adds.
- For more information about Total Utilities’ expanded renewable energy offerings
and its partnership with Lodestone Energy, contact us today.
by Jonathan Gardiner | May 17, 2024 | Energy, New Zealand Energy Certificates, News, NZ-ECs, Sustainable Business
Total Utilities has taken a pioneering step towards fostering sustainable energy by spearheading the landmark collaboration between Manawa Energy and Southern Spars, an iconic New Zealand company known for its cutting-edge marine spars and rigging.
The project primarily revolved around Total Utilities managing Southern Spars electricity Request for Proposal (RFP) while working in tandem with the selected energy provider, Manawa Energy.
While Southern Spars has been a longstanding procurement client of Total Utilities, this particular energy review was unique as it marked a departure from traditional services and encompassed additional negotiation concerning New Zealand Energy Certificates (NZECS, formally known as renewable energy certificates or RECs).
With a strong sustainability focus, Manawa Energy aimed to complement Southern Spars’ electricity supply with NZECS, presenting an exciting opportunity for Southern Spars to become the inaugural client of Manawa Energy’s Energy Certificate program.
NZ-ECs are tradable certificates, tracking and authenticating the production and consumption of renewable energy. They enable businesses or individuals to reduce the reported carbon emissions associated with their electricity consumption, and support bringing new renewable energy production online, without the need to consume it directly at source.
BraveTrace, which operates the NZECS (New Zealand Energy Certificate System), validates that the electricity consumed by Southern Spars is accurately matched and verified against the renewable electricity produced by Manawa Energy.
Bridging the Gap: Total Utilities’ Innovative Solutions
However, a challenge emerged for Manawa Energy: their equipment required certification before providing NZECS to Southern Spars, while Southern Spars’ current electricity contract was nearing its end. Total Utilities was able to step in to bridge this supply gap by providing third party NZECS until Manawa Energy was able to assume full supply.
“As an early participant in BraveTrace’s (previously Certified Energy) NZ Energy Certificate System, Total Utilities can act as an independent NZECS broker,” explained Total Utilities’ Manager Director, Jonathan Gardiner.
“Total Utilities facilitated NZECS transactions, ensuring uninterrupted energy supply while accommodating timing constraints. Our bridging contracts provided a temporary solution, enabling Southern Spars to transition smoothly to renewable energy procurement from the commencement of the new contract,” he added.
BraveTrace’s new CEO, Shaun Goldsbury, enthusiastically celebrates this major collaboration, “Manawa Energy is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest renewable energy generators and we are delighted to welcome them to the BraveTrace network.
“We are particularly proud of our longstanding relationship with Total Utilities and the exceptional support they have provided to Southern Spars in advancing sustainability practices in the sailing world.”
Through careful coordination, Total Utilities managed the NZECS exchange between Manawa Energy and Southern Spars, ensuring the partnership progressed seamlessly.
Manawa Energy has since registered the Kaimai hydroelectric power scheme as a production device and was able to meet Southern Spars’ needs for the 2024 production year.
The Kaimai scheme is significant in Manawa Energy’s generation portfolio as it not only provides renewable electricity to the Bay of Plenty, but also opens up a superb, accessible recreation area popular for fishing, kayaking, picnicking and running.
Water is released through the Lake McLaren Dam up to 26 days a year, providing high flows for white water kayakers from the Kaimai Canoe Club, and local white water rafting businesses.
Navigating complex utility landscapes
“This partnership underscores our dedication to sustainability and innovation,” emphasised Jonathan. “We’re committed to overcoming obstacles and driving progress in utility management.”
It was a great project to work on, and we thoroughly enjoyed the problem-solving discussions with George Anyon at Southern Spars and Glenn Webley at Manawa Energy. “All three parties had to think creatively and flexibly to get the job done,” he added.
Total Utilities’ successful collaboration underscores its ability to navigate complex utility management landscapes. As the industry evolves, it remains at the forefront, leading the charge toward a more sustainable future.
- For more information about Total Utilities and their sustainable initiatives, contact us today.
by Jonathan Gardiner | Aug 19, 2022 | New Zealand Energy Certificates, NZ-ECs, Sustainable Business
Total Utilities Management Group is excited to announce our registration on the ‘New Zealand Energy Certificate System (NZECS)’ – enabling our clients to support renewable generation and reduce their reportable emissions.
Administered and developed by Certified Energy, NZECS allows energy consumers to offset their reportable electricity related greenhouse gas emissions and support renewable energy by buying New Zealand Energy Certificates (NZ-ECs) to redeem against their consumption.
What are New Zealand Energy Certificates (NZ-ECs)? NZ-ECs show how and when energy was generated, and from where. This information is referred to as a ‘generation attribute.’ NZ-ECs can be traded and transferred from electricity generators to electricity retailers, who can ultimately sell these certificates to energy consumers. Through the purchase of a certificate, a consumer ‘reserves’ that unit of generation as their own – enabling them to make a clear statement about the type of electricity that they support.
This means that Total Utilities can now act as an independent broker of NZ-ECs and can buy and trade certificates on behalf of our customers to support them to invest in 100% renewable energy.
Certificates can be used to report zero-carbon electricity usage in accredited Greenhouse Gas Reporting Programmes and are a competitively priced alternative to carbon offsets that also offer the potential for greater impact.
By using Total Utilities as your independent broker for NZ-ECs, you can also be assured of straightforward, flexible contract terms – regardless of whether your energy use is big or small.
Fully Transparent Reporting
New Zealand is a relatively late adopter of a system of tradable energy certificates. Certificates create supply chain transparency with the attributes of each certificate outlining energy generation source, age of the generator and whether or not the generator is certified net zero carbon.
Electricity purchased directly from the grid in New Zealand comes from sources which are on average 80% renewable, however, depending on where and when it is purchased, the actual makeup of energy being delivered can vary sharply. This means that up until now, consumers of electricity had no way to link their consumption directly with a renewable generator.
Certified Energy’s NZ Energy Certificate System changes all this…
NZ-ECs prove that purchased energy is directly tied to a 100% renewable energy generator. They also allow energy consumers to report zero related greenhouse gas emissions and thus, to invest in a sustainable future for New Zealand.
NZ-ECs not only provide a fully transparent method of reporting, but also incentivise generators of renewable energy, who can sell their energy certificates on the open market. Total Utilities currently manages around half a billion dollars per year of utility contracts on behalf of our clients and sustainability has become a major strategic objective for many of these businesses.
We are fully committed to assisting our clients move towards 100% renewable energy, helping them in their journey towards net zero emissions.
Total Utilities Managing Director, Jonathan Gardiner, reacts to our registration on NZECS…
“We thrive on energy competition, and our registration as a participant in the New Zealand certificate market allows our customers to get the best of both worlds – full energy market competition, and quick sustainability wins with New Zealand Energy Certificates.
“By choosing to only offer NZ-ECs from suppliers which meet the strict Toitū Envirocare compliance criteria, our clients can report zero-carbon electricity usage in accredited GHG programmes, be part of New Zealand’s renewable energy future and meet carbon reduction targets.
“Electricity is a major cost and driver of emissions for many of our clients, so providing an independent service to negotiate energy supply contracts along with NZ-ECs means our clients can choose to take energy supply from any retailer whilst also meeting their sustainability goals.
“The certificates help create a circular economy as sellers of certificates are required to invest the revenue they earn from certificates in new renewable generation or decarbonisation projects. Purchasers of certificates are investing in a sustainable future for New Zealand.”
“By being amongst the first NZ-based participants to register on Certified Energy’s NZ Energy Certificate System, Total Utilities underlines our commitment to providing customers with the most powerful tools in their journey towards adopting renewable energy sources and moving towards net zero emissions.”
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