Ministerial foreword

After a period of relative stability, our energy system is undergoing a period of challenge and opportunity. Recent months have demonstrated how critical it is that we have a diversified, resilient energy system. And over the longer term, purchasers of New Zealand goods and services are increasingly demanding low-carbon products, delivered to market on low-carbon trucks, planes, and ships.

New Zealand is fortunate to have abundant renewable energy potential, which provides a strong foundation to electrify much of our economy, but also to produce hydrogen and other green fuels for activities that are less suited to electrification.

This Government is committed to doubling our renewable electricity generation by 2050 through our Electrify New Zealand work programme. We are also committed to removing regulatory barriers to unlock private investment in clean energy technologies, including hydrogen.

The Government wants to attract investment in low-emissions hydrogen to support New Zealand’s transition to a low-emissions economy. Substantial innovation has already taken place in New Zealand to kickstart our hydrogen economy. Firms are already pioneering everything from pilot production, refuelling stations, storage and electrolyser equipment technologies, heavy transport trials, investigation into airport ground infrastructure requirements, green urea pilot production, to seeking to explore for naturally occurring hydrogen, just to name a few. The Government wants to see more of this industry-led innovation.

This Hydrogen Action Plan is the Government’s commitment to enabling the hydrogen sector through removing regulatory barriers and supporting international trade and investment. But ultimately, it is private capital that will unleash our transition to a low-emissions economy. I look forward to working with the sector to unlock these opportunities.

Hon Simeon Brown

Minister for Energy

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