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EnergyWatch issue 85 – July 2022

EnergyWatch 85 was distributed to SEF members in July 2022. Its contents include:

  • Editorial - What is wrong with the Lake Onslow scheme?
  • Ten fatal flaws with Lake Onslow concept
  • Quantifying the "Dry-quarter" issue in NZ
  • A Security of Supply Service
  • Flywheels – more spin than energy storage
  • No GHG accountability in the gas industry
  • How transportable is hydrogen?
  • Green Ammonia – but not an energy carrier
  • Cost of CO2 reduction via switching to EVs
  • Grid electricity is a service not a product
  • Neil's Oil Price Chart
  • SEF AGM notice
  • Join our SEF News and Discussion Group.

 

 

PDF (~905KB)

EnergyWatch issue 84 – June 2021

EnergyWatch 84 was distributed to SEF members in June 2021. Its contents include:

  • Editorial - The Dry Year Myth
  • A Back-up Generator for New Zealand
  • A Critique of the Lake Onslow Concept
    • A Moving Target
    • Peer Review of Dimensions
    • Water Balance Considerations
    • Lake Onslow Economics
    • Summary
  • Hydrogen Planes won't get off the Ground
  • SEF's Climate Change Submission
    • The Perils of Pushing PHEVs
    • Cost-benefit Analysis of Light Vehicle Electrification
  • Neil's Oil Price Chart
  • Join our SEF News and Discussion Group

 

 

PDF (~910KB)

EnergyWatch issue 83 – September 2020

EnergyWatch 83 was distributed to SEF members in September 2020. Its contents include:

  • Editorial - Get Electricity Sorted
  • SEF Letter to Ministers
  • What is my number? - update
  • Iron Cage of the Law
  • Fixing our dysfunctional electricity market
  • Dismantling the Iron Cage
  • Lower South Island generation
  • A new era for KiwiRail
  • ICE>Hybrid>PHEV>EV : Likely Evolution
  • Postscript to EW 81
  • SEF AGM presentations
  • Neil’s Oil Price Chart
  • Join our SEF News and Discussion Group

 

 

PDF (~909KB)

EnergyWatch issue 82 – April 2020

EnergyWatch 82 was distributed to SEF members in April 2020. EnergyWatch 82 contents include:

  • Editorial – HYpeDROGEN: Issues with using hydrogen as an energy carrier
  • The properties of hydrogen
  • Bulk energy supply - back-up options
  • Hydrogen as a peak-shaving technology?
  • Hydrogen as a tradable commodity?
  • Hydrogen vehicles – pros and cons
  • Jeanette Fitzsimons
  • A role for rail in NZ
  • Where to for Huntly Power station?
  • Outlook for energy sources for bulk electricity generation
  • Submission on the MBIE discussion paper
  • Neil’s Oil Price Chart
  • Join our SEF News and Discussion Group

 

 

PDF (~459KB)

EnergyWatch issue 81 – July 2019

EnergyWatch 81 was distributed to SEF members in July 2019. EnergyWatch 81 contents include:

  • Editorial – EVs – Good but not that good
  • Fast charging is not that fast
  • Cautionary tales
  • Cheap to run but not that cheap
  • The ChargeNet retailing model
  • The Vector, WEL and other LC fast chargers
  • The SEF Annual General Meeting
  • A 700km EV road trip
  • A case for pumped storage in NZ
  • Submissions to the Electricity Pricing Enquiry
  • Neil's Oil Price Chart
  • Join our SEF News and Discussion Group

 

 

PDF (~617KB)

EnergyWatch issue 80 – June 2018

EnergyWatch 80 was distributed to SEF members in June 2018. EnergyWatch 80 contents include:

  • Editorial - A Sustainable Energy Agenda
  • The SEF Annual General Meeting
  • SEF Submissions
    • Productivity Commission report
    • Low Emission Economy
    • EECA 2018/19 consultation
      • Response to SEF from EECA
      • Rebuttal from Frank
  • Zero Carbon Bill
  • Making the Transition to EVs happen
  • Energy Efficiency First, a path not a bridge to a low-carbon economy
  • Commerce Commission's Priorities 2017/18
  • CO2 storage in the very deep ocean as a concept for delivering on the CCS promise
  • Neil's Oil Price Chart
  • Join our Sustainable Energy Forum News and Discussion Group

 

 

PDF (~531KB)

EnergyWatch issue 79 – July 2017

EnergyWatch 79 was distributed to SEF members in July 2017. EnergyWatch 79 contents include:

  • Editorial
  • Ten Key Sustainable Energy Issues for New Zealand
  • When is an EV not and EV? When it is a PHEV
  • The 30c/litre myth
  • Too good to be true?
  • Retention of our zero-emission trolley buses is a political issue
  • Wrightspeed technology
  • Low-End Torque in Practice
  • De-electrification of the NIMT
  • Green Party Energy Policy
  • Electricity pricing controversies transmission pricing, solar tax, and low fixed charges
  • Future Wood Burners
  • Notice of AGM and forum
  • SEF submission on the replacement energy efficiency and conservation
  • Neil’s Oil Price Chart
  • Join our Sustainable Energy Forum News and Discussion Group

 

 

PDF (~577KB)

EnergyWatch issue 78 – January 2017

EnergyWatch 78 was distributed to SEF members in January 2017. EnergyWatch 78 contents include:

  • Editorial
  • Light rail for New Zealand?
  • Repentance and redemption vs Indulgence
  • Is the NZ ETS fit for purpose
  • 2016 Status of Electric vehicles
  • Contribution of EVs to emission reduction
  • Going the wrong way on NZ’s motorways
  • Neil’s Oil Price Chart

 

 

PDF (~852KB)

EnergyWatch issue 77 – June 2016

EnergyWatch 77 was distributed to SEF members in June 2016. EnergyWatch 77 contents include:

  • Background
  • Are Consumers Frustrated?
  • Domination of Power Sector by Incumbents
  • Regulatory Intervention
  • Myths of the Market
  • Institutional Obfuscation
  • Technology & Climate Change
  • Recent NZ Initiatives

 

 

PDF (~510KB)

EnergyWatch issue 76 – March 2016

EnergyWatch 76 was distributed to SEF members in March 2016. EnergyWatch 76 contents include:

  • Editorial
  • The Dynamics of Electricity storage by John Irving
  • IEA review of NZ energy policies stirs controversy by Molly Melhuish
  • Fonterra clean energy shift not so simple
  • A Contrary View by Jeanette Fitzsimons
  • Building a local sustainable energy agenda?
  • Rail in New Zealand (an opportunity being missed) by Kerry Wood
  • Neil’s Oil Price Chart
  • Join our Sustainable Energy Forum News and Discussion Group

 

 

PDF (~481KB)

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