Global Climate Accord Brings Productivity Conference Into Focus

25 FEBRUARY 2016

New Zealand’s flagship energy services conference in 2016 is set to bring a strong Kiwi focus to the energy challenges facing the world in the context of energy use and global warming.

“With the Climate Change Accord now signed by over 200 countries, the focus is quickly shifting to how countries will deliver on their agreed targets - and New Zealand needs to take serious steps to keep up,” said Ewan Gebbie, Executive Officer of the Energy Management Association of New Zealand (EMANZ).

“This year’s conference topic: Energy Productivity and Partnerships is looking specifically at the challenges related to driving increased energy productivity in New Zealand and the opportunities this presents for local businesses.”

At the conference, delegates will learn about the different ways Energy Productivity and Partnerships will contribute to the Next Energy Revolution and the impact this will have on businesses and the wider New Zealand economy.  Policymakers and practitioners will share their experience on what has and hasn’t worked in the service and partnership space within energy management and other industries.  

The line-up of speakers released this week includes independent consultant Robert Tromop, who has returned to New Zealand after working at the International Energy Agency in Paris.  Mr Tromop will share his thoughts on the global shift towards a focus on energy productivity and what New Zealand can learn from the experiences of other countries.  

Also presenting is Paul Conway, Director of Economics and Research at the NZ Productivity Commission.  Mr Conway, who leads the Commission’s work on understanding the broad drivers of New Zealand’s productivity performance and how it can be improved, will share his thoughts on what New Zealand can and should be doing.

“Making the most of new and improved technologies is key in lifting productivity and incomes,” said Mr Conway. “Learning from successful early adopters is an important part of meeting that challenge and increasing the competitiveness of New Zealand firms in global markets”.

The conference will showcase Kiwi businesses and industries that are already leading the world in driving energy productivity in a range of technologies from refrigeration to battery charging and lighting.  These businesses are willing to share their know-how to enable other New Zealand businesses to turn international energy challenges into a real competitive advantage.  Speakers such as Neville Auton, who has a target to reduce the Otago Polytech campus energy consumption by 40% in two years, will talk delegates through a number of projects and control strategies he is employing and a highly cost effective sub metering system he is developing in the process.  

Innovation within the energy sector is another key topic with speakers such as Basil Sharp, Energy Centre Director at Auckland University and Chris Thompson of Callaghan Innovation sharing their insights.  Further keynote speakers from the world stage are set to be announced in the build up to May.

“The conference will enable attendees to understand energy productivity at a macro and micro level with over 30 international and local speakers sharing their views, research, case studies, and practical experience from throughout the productivity and energy sectors,” said Mr Gebbie.

“The Paris Climate Accord has brought the importance of energy productivity into clear focus and, with the exciting opportunities this presents, we are expecting this to be a well attended conference that generates some fascinating discussion and exciting opportunities.”

ENDS

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