Latest news with #MeridianEnergy
NZ Herald
a day ago
- Climate
- NZ Herald
How a solar storage battery is helping Raglan Community House support those in need
When storms knock out power in Whāingaroa, locals know where to go for shelter, warmth, a hot drink and someone to talk to. It's not a civil defence base or a generator-fed hub. It's Raglan Community House. Now, thanks to a solar storage battery funded by Meridian Energy, it's more reliable than ever. Run by a charitable trust, Raglan Community House has quietly done the work of many services under one roof for nearly four decades. 'We just work our butts off to make sure we cover as many people as possible,' said House manager Mike Rarere. Services include a drop-in lounge, low-cost counselling, free digital device support, youth programmes, budgeting advice and a local radio show. 'We cover the whole spectrum of our community, from mums and bubbas through to youth, families, adults going through tough times, and our senior community,' Rarere said. 'In rural areas you don't have lots of organisations doing one specialised thing. So, we try to meet as many needs as we can. Raglan is one of those places that likes to find its own solutions for its own challenges – it's a place where the community steps up.' Last year, more than 2200 people visited the drop-in lounge. 'We've got a lovely east-facing lounge that catches the sun, and a heat pump that keeps it warm in winter,' Rarere said. 'People come in for a cup of tea and a chat. A lot of humour, a lot of laughter goes down.' Keeping a centre like this running through wild weather hasn't been easy. Solar panels were installed more than a decade ago, long before energy storage was common for small charities. Until recently, it had no way to store the power it generated. That changed with support from Meridian Energy's Community Decarbonisation Fund. 'Before the battery was added, any excess power just went back to the grid,' Rarere said. 'Now we can store it and use it, even when the grid goes down.' It's a crucial upgrade for a hub that now can stay open when others can't. 'We've had a few power outages in recent years. We're one of the only places that can support people when it's cold and the power goes out,' he said. 'People need help. If there's no one, they're just on their own. For seniors and those living in poverty, no power means no cooking, no warmth. We provide a space that hopefully helps with that.' Although the battery is new, the house is already seen as a reliable fallback. For Rarere, it's about more than power. It's about purpose. 'Community organisations run on the smell of an oily rag. We already do a lot, and we also have to respond to things that pop up, whether it's mental health, domestic violence or something else. We just do our very best.' 'You never know what will walk through the door. Someone might be talking about self-harm or living in a tent. You've got to respond with empathy and stay solutions-focused. We don't have all the answers. We just try our best.' He urged other grassroots groups to apply for Meridian's backing. 'If it meets the criteria and they can get Meridian's support, that would be fantastic. The more we can do to build stability in our communities, the better.' Meridian's Community Decarbonisation Fund helps organisations reduce carbon emissions and supports their sustainability goals. Nearly $3 million has already supported community-led projects across the country. For Rarere, it all goes back to his early days as a youth worker in South Auckland, running martial arts and hip-hop events in the 1990s and 2000s. 'Living a life of purpose is something I reflected on many years ago. I had a look at earning a lot of money, but I saw people who had it and weren't happy. I wanted to be able to look back and say I'd made a difference,' he said. 'Working on the front line gives me perspective. When I'm feeling down or facing challenges in my own life, there's always someone out there doing it tougher. It's a privilege to hear people's stories. And it reminds me to just get on with it.' With a full battery, a warm lounge and an open door, Raglan Community House keeps the lights on – in every sense.
RNZ News
10-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Liquefied natural gas imports feasible within 3-4 years but would be costly
Pohokura is New Zealand's largest natural gas producer. Photo: Supplied The import of liquefied natural gas (LNG) is feasible within the next three or four years, but would be costly, might be needed only occasionally, and would likely need backing from the government for fast track consent. A report commissioned by the gas company Clarus and the four main power companies - Contact, Meridian, Genesis, and Mercury - has just been released and canvasses various options of scale. LNG has been touted as a back-up for dwindling local gas supplies for the power industry. Clarus chief executive Paul Goodeve said the report was a starting point looking at either a small scale import facility, or larger international standard installation. "This work aims to provide New Zealand with a robust and clear-eyed evaluation of LNG import feasibility, and while both options are technically feasible, they each come with very different costs and benefits." A small scale import option would use smaller vessels, likely needing frequent shipments, but using existing port facilities and infrastructure, at a cost of between $140m-$295m. Goodeve said that had the benefit of lower build costs, faster and flexible development, but the cost of gas would be about 25 percent higher. A conventional LNG import option would be based on using standard-sized ships delivering significant volumes of gas, which may vary between none in some periods and a handful when gas was required for power generation. "The real benefit of these conventional-scale LNG solutions is to improve security of energy supply, providing access to energy when required. In New Zealand's case, this may be in a dry-year when hydro inflows are low, or if domestic gas supply continues to decline," the report said. The report said the government would not need to be directly involved in any LNG operation but could materially assist through backing the consenting of a project. "It has an important role to play at this early stage in defining the project. Without government engagement the schedule to first LNG imports will certainly slip; with government intervention and pro-activity the schedule to LNG can be accelerated." The government has given an indication that it would, if necessary, legislate fast track consent for an LNG terminal. The report mentioned, but did not identify, six possible import locations, although the small scale option singles out Port Taranaki. The fuel import port at Marsden Point has been mentioned in the past, and the other four established port operations - Auckland, Tauranga, Napier and Wellington - are logical sites given they already handle fuel shipments and connect to the North Island gas network. Goodeve said the import of LNG was not a substitute for the development of biofuels, gas exploration, and electrification through renewable energy generation. "Our energy future will be shaped by a mix of energy options and this work ensures the option of LNG is properly understood." He said there was much engineering, commercial and planning work to be done, which meant decisions on whether to proceed would not emerge until next year. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
07-07-2025
- Automotive
- Scoop
Meridian's Fast-Charging EV Hub At Auckland Airport Takes Off
Meridian Energy has today opened a fast-charging hub at Auckland Airport, marking a major milestone in New Zealand's transition to more sustainable transport. Purpose-built to meet the real-world needs of electric vehicle (EV) drivers, this state-of-the-art facility is a leap forward in accessibility, efficiency and environmental impact. 'As New Zealand's largest city and the leader in EV adoption, Auckland is the ideal place for us to launch Meridian's first fast-charging hub,' says Joanna Yip, Meridian Public Charging Product Manager. 'Auckland Airport is a high-traffic gateway for both locals and international visitors, so it's the perfect location to showcase our commitment to decarbonisation and driver-centric design.' Strategically located at the Auckland Airport Shopping Precinct, the hub features: • 5 x DC fast chargers (up to 160kW), each with two charge points to ensure 10 vehicles can charge at once • Dynamic power allocation to reduce wait times and maximise efficiency • Two chargers designed and prioritised for drivers with greater accessibility needs. The chargers accommodate wheelchair users with sufficient space to navigate around the vehicle and charger and feature an adjustable user screen to suit various heights. • A drive-through charger for EVs towing trailers, boats or caravans • CCS + CHAdeMO connectors to support a wide range of EV models • Room to grow, with space to add more chargers as demand increases 'We've designed this hub to tackle real pain points for drivers — especially queuing. We've listened to the EV community and built a site that's accessible, efficient and supporting communities to decarbonise,' says Joanna Yip. Every kilowatt delivered at the hub is matched with Certified Renewable Energy generated by Meridian's hydro stations and wind farms, ensuring that every charge supports renewable energy generation. Charging at this site also helps fund community decarbonisation projects through Meridian's Certified Renewable Energy programme. 'We're aiming to become the largest public EV charging provider in the country, and planning to expand its Certified Renewable Energy product across our public charging network so this launch is just the beginning.'
1News
02-07-2025
- Business
- 1News
Silver lining to rain-laden clouds over Aotearoa
Regular rain may have caused issues for parts of New Zealand over the last couple of months, but it has also helped ease concerns for the country's electricity generation. Power company Meridian Energy said its hydro lakes were "in good shape as New Zealand moves into the second month of winter" thanks to regular rain and actions from the electricity industry to boost security of supply. "Supply being managed carefully and low spot prices – this is the market doing what it was designed to do and working in the interest of all New Zealanders," said Meridian chief executive Mike Roan. Among the storage lakes that Meridian managed, the Waiau catchment (Lakes Te Anau and Manapōuri) was 89% full, or 131% of average for the time of year, while Lake Pūkaki was 61% full, or 93% of average for the time of year. Lake Pūkaki (file image). (Source: Meridian Energy) ADVERTISEMENT That storage, along with increased thermal fuel reserves, has softened wholesale prices considerably, with average prices last week of $91 in the North Island and $85 in the South Island. Forward market prices at Otahuhu for 2025 have also halved, having fallen from $300/MWh in March and April to $150/MWh currently. "The welcome boost we've seen in our hydro storage is the result of regular rain since April, rather than the damaging events we've seen in other parts of the country over the last week," Roan said. The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including Australia's weather bomb, the surprising costs of getting one more dog, and BTS are back. (Source: 1News) "Gaining access to more water at assets where the built infrastructure is already in place is an opportunity New Zealand needs to capitalise on. It can happen more quickly and with less environmental impact than any form of new generation." He said Meridian was working toward increasing New Zealand's hydro storage capacity, to help boost security of supply and reduce electricity prices for Kiwi homes and businesses.
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
There Are Reasons To Feel Uneasy About Meridian Energy's (NZSE:MEL) Returns On Capital
What trends should we look for it we want to identify stocks that can multiply in value over the long term? Ideally, a business will show two trends; firstly a growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and secondly, an increasing amount of capital employed. Put simply, these types of businesses are compounding machines, meaning they are continually reinvesting their earnings at ever-higher rates of return. However, after briefly looking over the numbers, we don't think Meridian Energy (NZSE:MEL) has the makings of a multi-bagger going forward, but let's have a look at why that may be. Trump has pledged to "unleash" American oil and gas and these 15 US stocks have developments that are poised to benefit. For those that aren't sure what ROCE is, it measures the amount of pre-tax profits a company can generate from the capital employed in its business. The formula for this calculation on Meridian Energy is: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) ÷ (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) 0.022 = NZ$272m ÷ (NZ$13b - NZ$872m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2024). So, Meridian Energy has an ROCE of 2.2%. Ultimately, that's a low return and it under-performs the Renewable Energy industry average of 11%. See our latest analysis for Meridian Energy In the above chart we have measured Meridian Energy's prior ROCE against its prior performance, but the future is arguably more important. If you're interested, you can view the analysts predictions in our free analyst report for Meridian Energy . On the surface, the trend of ROCE at Meridian Energy doesn't inspire confidence. To be more specific, ROCE has fallen from 7.2% over the last five years. Although, given both revenue and the amount of assets employed in the business have increased, it could suggest the company is investing in growth, and the extra capital has led to a short-term reduction in ROCE. If these investments prove successful, this can bode very well for long term stock performance. While returns have fallen for Meridian Energy in recent times, we're encouraged to see that sales are growing and that the business is reinvesting in its operations. And the stock has followed suit returning a meaningful 43% to shareholders over the last five years. So while the underlying trends could already be accounted for by investors, we still think this stock is worth looking into further. On a separate note, we've found 1 warning sign for Meridian Energy you'll probably want to know about. While Meridian Energy isn't earning the highest return, check out this free list of companies that are earning high returns on equity with solid balance sheets. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
