Energy
Contact Energy posts significant increase in half-year profit
A lift in hydro generation, lower costs and higher sales has seen the country's largest power company significantly increase its half-year profit.
Gas customers may face paying average of 4.5 percent more
Gas customers could be paying an average of 4.5 percent more for supply in each of the next four years as the country transitions to renewable energy.
Growing energy sector faces major workforce shortage
The electricity supply industry says it's on track for unprecedented growth in the coming years but will be hamstrung by a massive deficit in skilled tradespeople. The industry is warning of a looming… Audio
Vector plans Auckland power outages to clear maintenance pile-up
As Auckland swelters in high humidity, lines company Vector says it has a series of power outages planned to complete a backlog of maintenance work.
National Future Energy Centre progress questioned
In its first year of operation Ara Ake - the national future energy centre - burnt through two thirds of its annual revenue, that's $1.7m, in salaries, directors fees and consultants.
Drivers warned to prepare for pumped up petrol prices
New Zealanders are being warned to prepare for pumped up petrol prices, with rates likely to climb for some time yet.
That's according to the managing director of low cost operator Waitomo, who says… Video, Audio
Rio Tinto says it wants to delay closure of Tiwai Point smelter
Rio Tinto says it believes there is a long-term future for the Bluff operation past its previously signalled closure date in 2024.
Contact Energy's planned power station to cost $140m more
Contact Energy's new Tauhara geothermal power station will be delayed slightly, will cost more, but is expected to generate more power.
Tiwai Point closure: Transition plan for Southland revealed
Clean energy industries are at the core of a new government plan for how Southland will cope with Tiwai Point aluminium smelter shutting down.
No-go zones with 400,000 cubic metres of gas to be vented from Maui pipeline
Residents, bach owners and farmers are being told to vacate properties and move stock behind an exclusion zone as urgent repairs are done to the Maui gas pipeline in Taranaki over the weekend.
Petrol prices get closer to $3 a litre
Refilling your petrol tank is starting to sting like never before - with prices inching closer to $3 a litre.
The AA says that will happen at some point this year, and prices are already nearing… Video, Audio
How power stations will stay running under mass isolation
Keeping the lights on during Omicron is literally the job of Energy company Contact.
It owns and operates 11 power stations. The company has close to 1,000 workers spread across eight locations… Video, Audio
Consumer NZ warns buyers beware of "heavy duty" battery claims
Buyer beware - "heavy duty" batteries are being outlasted by similar products.
Consumer NZ tested fifteen products and found alkaline and lithium models performed three to five times better.
The… Audio
Report from the future: How Aotearoa will be a better place in 2040
Opinion - There are many reasons to be pessimistic about the future - but what if we got it right? Here's Thomas Nash's case for optimism.
Indonesia bans coal exports in January on domestic power worries
Indonesia has banned coal exports in January, to ensure it has enough for the power plants at home.
What is the real cost of a switch to biofuels?
The shift to use more biofuels is forecast to raise petrol prices and knock up to $1b off NZ's economic growth within four years, but not making a move could also carry big, uncalculated costs.
Why Homo sapiens are doomed to go extinct
In his new book, A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth, British palaeontologist and evolutionary biologist Dr Henry Gee offers a rather blunt assessment of why humanity might already be a dead… Audio
Solar farm to be built next to Marsden Point refinery
Meridian Energy is to build a solar farm on 105 hectares next to the Marsden Point refinery, near Whangarei.
Wellington's electric ferry to lead the charge
The first electric ferry in the Southern Hemisphere will soon be switched on and leading the charge across the Wellington harbour. Audio
Sci-Fi/Sci-Fact - Ironman's Arc Reactor
James Rice is a PhD student researching superconducting power supplies for fusion energy applications at the Robinson Research Institute at Victoria University of Wellington, where he works closely… Audio