Decarbonising Auckland’s energy system

Energy is one of eight priorities outlined in Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri: Auckland’s Climate Plan.  

Aucklanders are big energy users. Our largest contribution to emissions comes from private vehicle use, which will be considered in our transport challenge. But Auckland is also a significant electricity demand centre, with almost all electricity being generated outside of the region, including at the Huntly coal/gas-fired power station in Waikato.  

Energy-related emissions are also produced by local industries that use heat for processing, such as NZ Steel’s use of coal for steel-making in Glenbrook, or beer brewing, coffee roasting, glassmaking, veggies grown in heated greenhouses, and sugar production. Coal and gas boilers are also used for heating at hospitals, schools and other large venues across the region, including Mt Eden and Mt Smart stadiums. Local and central government are committed to decarbonising these sites.  

Aucklanders need to help decarbonise energy use, by electrifying transport and industry, and increasing the uptake of renewable electricity sources, to build the smart, resilient and affordable energy system of the future.