DISTRICT HEATING SCHEME CASE STUDY, TAUP?, NEW ZEALAND

Abstract

Research from Europe demonstrates the multi-faceted benefits for society from investing in district heating schemes. The technology provides reliable heating and cooling that has proven positive impacts on health and wellbeing. As the source of energy is the earth as opposed to an electricity provider, it addresses growing energy poverty hardship as there are minimal running costs to maintain a high level of comfort year-round. The reduced burden on the electricity grid also contributes to the government’s sdecarbonisation and 100% renewable electricity generation targets by reducing the overall total of how much is produced.
A GNS facilitated a workshop in Taup? in July 2021 will explore the opportunities and barriers for investing in residential heating technology in New Zealand. A wide range of stakeholders were invited to the discussions: central and local government, iwi,
engineers, developers and green finance. Discussions centred around an actual case study (a 2,200 lot subdivision and retirement village in Taup?), but the technology discussed is scalable and replicable across New Zealand.
This paper will summarise the workshop findings and analyse the barriers and opportunities to extending this initiative to other parts
of the country.