Mapping New Zealand's energy future

As Aotearoa New Zealand transitions towards a low carbon emissions economy, understanding when, where, and how energy will be used is becoming increasingly important.

Researchers from the University of Canterbury's (UC) Sustainable Energy Research Group, led by Dr Rebecca Peer and Associate Professor Jannik Haas, are developing models that help forecast how Aotearoa New Zealand's energy needs may evolve over coming decades.

This work includes an open-access dataset projecting energy demand to 2050 across electricity, heating, and transport, providing hourly and regional insights to support planning and investment decisions.

Beyond demand forecasting, the research group examines how Aotearoa New Zealand's energy system could evolve under different technology, infrastructure, and policy scenarios.

Their work explores the role of renewable energy, electrification, hydrogen production, energy storage, and future infrastructure investment. By modelling different pathways and assessing environmental impacts across energy technologies, the research helps identify opportunities and trade-offs involved in the transition to a low-emissions economy.

The group's datasets and modelling tools are openly available, enabling researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to test assumptions, explore future scenarios, and build on the research.