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Networks for our future
Understanding the Energy Trilemma
The Energy Trilemma is a global concept that highlights the challenge of creating a healthy energy system. It’s about balancing three essential priorities
Energy Equity
Fair access for everyone. Electricity should remain accessible and cost-effective for all New Zealanders – homes, businesses, and communities alike.
Energy Security
Keeping the lights on – ensuring reliable and affordable electricity, even as demand grows and unexpected events occur. This means maintaining and upgrading infrastructure so power keeps flowing.
Environmental Sustainability
Protecting our planet by reducing the impact of energy generation and use. We’re transitioning to renewable sources and cutting carbon emissions to enable a cleaner energy future.
Why Balance Matters
These three goals often pull in different directions. For example, improving sustainability can increase costs, while boosting security might require more investment. Our job is to manage this balance carefully so we deliver energy that is reliable, fair, and sustainable.
Our Approach
- Upgrading infrastructure to keep power flowing as demand changes.
- Optimising the network for efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
- Investing in smart technologies like demand response and real-time tools to support a cleaner future.
Leading a Sustainable Energy Future
Our vision is to Lead a sustainable energy future.
We are focused on delivering safe, reliable, and affordable electricity to communities in Hawke’s Bay, Rotorua, and Taupō. Our plan for the next ten years is shaped by new technology, the drive for transitioning more of our reliance on fossil fuels to electric alternatives and changing consumer needs.
We’re committed to enabling a sustainable energy future for everyone, check out our roadmap for our services for the coming 10-years and looks back at our recent progress in key areas.
Windsor Substation
Find out about Unison's pioneering sustainable substation, the first of its kind in New Zealand
Electrification of Vehicles
Want to learn more about the growth of electric vehicles (EV's) in New Zealand, and globally?
Solar Energy
Be informed about solar energy and installation
Case Studies
How are we enabling our customers to achieve their sustainable energy objectives?
Change Drivers to New Zealand's Electricity System
The electricity system supporting New Zealand’s economy and lifestyle is changing. This change is being shaped by the following key drivers:
Decarbonisation refers to the elimination of carbon-based fuels for electricity generation and, electrification of demand sources that currently utilise carbon-based fuels e.g., transport and process heat. While an increase in renewable energy sources will result in a more sustainable grid, renewable generation can be highly intermittent, making the balancing of energy supply and demand significantly more challenging.
Decentralisation is the reduced reliance on a handful of large generating plants and the disbursement of generation across many smaller units. It also refers to the increasing amount of embedded generation and storage coming online including solar farms, batteries, combined heat, and power sources on business sites and, residential solar panels.
The complex changes occurring in the energy market will require effective network management in real-time. Digitalisation provides the means to achieve this through comprehensive monitoring and control across the entire electricity system from generation to transmission and distribution supply and demand. Digitalisation also provides the foundation for innovation by enabling monitored information to be analysed to identify system efficiency improvement opportunities. While the transformation of the electricity system will support environmental sustainability and improved energy equity, the system will be significantly more complex than it is today. Many of the techniques currently employed to manage the transmission system may become relevant at a distribution level to deal with the hundreds of thousands or millions of nodes.