Industry Leaders Discuss the Future of Energy
What does New Zealand’s energy future look like? That was the question at the heart of the recent Lightforce Solar Energy Summit, hosted in partnership with NZME and BusinessDesk NZ.
The event brought together business leaders, energy experts, and sustainability professionals for a discussion on the opportunities and challenges facing New Zealand as electrification accelerates and energy demand continues to grow.
Moderated by BusinessDesk’s Garth Bray, the panel featured:
- Alec Tang, Sustainability Lead at KPMG
- Mike Casey, CEO of Rewiring New Zealand
- Rory McCarthy, COO of Lightforce Solar
Together, they explored energy security, infrastructure planning, the future role of solar energy, and what businesses can do today to prepare for a rapidly changing energy landscape.
Following the panel discussion, we asked speakers to share their thoughts on some of the most common questions New Zealand businesses have about solar energy and electrification.
Video 1: How do we know New Zealand is undergoing an energy transition?
The signs of energy transition are becoming increasingly visible across New Zealand.
As more homes and businesses adopt electric vehicles, heat pumps, battery storage, and electric equipment, electricity demand is growing significantly. At the same time, organisations are looking for greater energy resilience and more control over rising power costs.
Solar energy is becoming an important part of that transition, helping businesses generate their own electricity while reducing reliance on the grid.
Video 2: Why should businesses invest in solar now rather than later?
Many businesses recognise the potential benefits of solar, but timing often becomes a key consideration.
Investing sooner allows organisations to begin generating savings immediately while reducing exposure to future electricity price increases. Businesses that delay may continue paying higher operating costs while missing opportunities to improve cash flow and energy certainty today.
For many organisations, solar is no longer simply an environmental decision. It is becoming a strategic business investment.
Video 3: What three questions should every business ask before considering solar?
Every solar journey begins with understanding your business. Before investing, consider:
1. How much electricity are we using? Understanding current energy consumption provides the foundation for building the right solar solution.
2. When are we using that electricity? Businesses with high daytime energy usage often see the strongest results from solar generation.
3. What does our business look like in five to ten years? Future expansion plans, vehicle electrification, manufacturing growth, and operational changes can all influence system design and long-term returns.
Video 4: What’s the one question every business should ask themselves?
When it comes to solar, the most important question may be the simplest: What is our long-term energy strategy?
Businesses often focus on today’s power bill. The organisations achieving the greatest value, however, are looking at energy as a long-term operational asset.
A clear strategy around energy costs, resilience, sustainability goals, and future growth can help determine whether solar is the right investment and when to act.
Key Takeaways From The Summit
Several themes emerged throughout the morning:
- Energy security is becoming increasingly important for New Zealand businesses.
- Electrification is accelerating across transport, heating, and industry.
- Solar energy will play a significant role in New Zealand’s future energy mix.
- Collaboration between industry, government, and business is critical to supporting the transition.
- Businesses that take a proactive approach to energy planning are likely to be best positioned for the future.
Looking Ahead
The strong engagement from attendees demonstrated the growing interest in New Zealand’s energy transition and the role that businesses can play within it.
We would like to thank NZME, BusinessDesk NZ, our guest speakers, and everyone who joined us for the summit.
As New Zealand continues to electrify, conversations like these are essential to helping businesses understand the opportunities ahead and make informed energy decisions.
The Future Is Obvious.