GNS welcomes new energy development centre in Taranaki

GNS Science welcomes today’s announcement by the Prime Minister of the establishment of a National New-Energy Development Centre in Taranaki.

It comes at a crucial time as New Zealand moves toward a low-emissions future, which will mean developing and testing a range of options to achieve this target.

GNS Science Chief Executive Ian Simpson said the early signals are that the Centre will be highly collaborative in drawing on the skills and know-how from many organisations.

“We look forward to working with the new Centre in developing new ideas and technologies, and sharing our knowledge to make the most of the opportunities on offer,” Mr Simpson said.

“Our involvement will give the new Centre access to national and international energy science with close linkages to industry that will be able to deliver relevant research that makes a tangible difference.”

Mr Simpson said Taranaki was the ideal location for such a Centre given its long history with the energy sector and the wide range of knowledge and skills already there.

GNS Science had recently refocused its science effort so it could play a greater role in New Zealand’s transition to a low carbon economy.

This will involve research to grow New Zealand’s renewable energy supply and assist with the development of a ‘hydrogen economy’. It would also include building on existing partnerships with international collaborators, industry, and Māori to help unlock the next-generation of geothermal energy sources for New Zealand.

Mr Simpson added that GNS Science had expertise in a number of areas that the Centre is likely to focus on. As well as geothermal and hydrogen, this included energy storage technologies, carbon capture and storage, and solar technologies.

GNS Science’s materials science group had a track record of working at the molecular level to deliver new technologies to improve energy efficiency.

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