New Zealand loves to boast about its clean, green energy story. With around 80 to 90% of grid electricity coming from renewable sources like hydro, wind and geothermal, we look like one of the world’s quiet success cases on decarbonisation.

But beneath that headline number lies a much more precarious reality. When lake levels fall and gas supplies tighten, our energy system starts to look very exposed.​

In the latest episode of The Business of Tech, I sit down with Melissa Reynolds‑Clarke and Daniel Gnoth from Ara Ake, the national centre for energy innovation, to explore how we can lean on innovation to navigate this emerging energy crunch.

The conversation ranges from process heat in dairy factories and meat plants that still run on coal and gas, to the growing risk that international customers will turn away from products that are not backed by genuinely low‑emissions energy.​

Ara Ake sits in the “valley of death” for new technology – that tough space between promising lab results and commercial deployment. Daniel explains how the organisation supports everything from fusion “moonshots” and hydrogen‑electric aircraft trials, to more grounded projects like battery storage at Wellington’s CentrePort, rural microgrids, and ultra‑cheap hot water control that effectively turns our cylinders into a giant, flexible battery. Melissa, drawing on decades in the rural sector and on energy company boards, highlights the brutal realities facing farmers and manufacturers who need affordable, reliable energy today, even as they’re pushed to decarbonise for tomorrow’s markets.​

We dig into some of the most promising levers for fast impact – smarter use of flexibility on the grid, re‑using old oil and gas wells in Taranaki for deep geothermal heat, and new business models that make technologies like biodigesters and community batteries actually stack up in a country of small, dispersed farms and towns. We also talk frankly about the capital gap that still exists between startup and scale‑up, and why system‑wide thinking across regulation, networks, and markets, matters just as much as shiny new tech.​

If you want to understand what New Zealand’s energy transition really looks like on the ground, and where innovation can genuinely move the dial, this episode is for you. Streaming on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Show notes

Who builds NZ’s LNG terminal? The two names being floated - BusinessDesk

New liquefied natural gas terminal: 'Vital' or 'bonkers'? - RNZ

Why the new LNG terminal could raise, not lower, your power bill - Newsroom

Ryan Bridge: The Taranaki LNG terminal is a good idea, depending on who you ask - NewstalkZB

Second interim boss appointed at Ara Ake as work continues to find next CEO - The Post

Energy research centre Ara Ake secures $70 million in funding to support innovation - Stuff

Ara Ake Impact Report 2025 - Ara Ake

 

New Zealand loves to boast about its clean, green energy story. With around 80 to 90% of grid electricity coming from renewable sources like hydro, wind and geothermal, we look like one of the world&rsquo;s quiet success cases on decarbonisation.
But beneath that headline number lies a much more precarious reality. When lake levels fall and gas supplies tighten, our energy system starts to look very exposed.​
In the latest episode of&nbsp;The Business of Tech, I sit down with Melissa Reynolds‑Clarke and Daniel Gnoth from Ara Ake, the national centre for energy innovation, to explore how we can lean on&nbsp;innovation&nbsp;to navigate this emerging energy crunch.
The conversation ranges from process heat in dairy factories and meat plants that still run on coal and gas, to the growing risk that international customers will turn away from products that are not backed by genuinely low‑emissions energy.​
Ara Ake sits in the &ldquo;valley of death&rdquo; for new technology &ndash; that tough space between promising lab results and commercial deployment. Daniel explains how the organisation supports everything from fusion &ldquo;moonshots&rdquo; and hydrogen‑electric aircraft trials, to more grounded projects like battery storage at Wellington&rsquo;s CentrePort, rural microgrids, and ultra‑cheap hot water control that effectively turns our cylinders into a giant, flexible battery. Melissa, drawing on decades in the rural sector and on energy company boards, highlights the brutal realities facing farmers and manufacturers who need affordable, reliable energy today, even as they&rsquo;re pushed to decarbonise for tomorrow&rsquo;s markets.​
We dig into some of the most promising levers for fast impact &ndash; smarter use of flexibility on the grid, re‑using old oil and gas wells in Taranaki for deep geothermal heat, and new business models that make technologies like biodigesters and community batteries actually stack up in a country of small, dispersed farms and towns. We also talk frankly about the capital gap that still exists between startup and scale‑up, and why system‑wide thinking across regulation, networks, and markets, matters just as much as shiny new tech.​
If you want to understand what New Zealand&rsquo;s energy transition really looks like on the ground, and where innovation can genuinely move the dial, this episode is for you. Streaming on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.&nbsp;
Show notes
<a href="https://businessdesk.co.nz/article/infrastructure/who-builds-nzs-lng-terminal-the-two-names-being-floated">Who builds NZ&rsquo;s LNG terminal? The two names being floated</a> - BusinessDesk
<a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/586359/new-liquefied-natural-gas-terminal-vital-or-bonkers">New liquefied natural gas terminal: 'Vital' or 'bonkers'?</a> - RNZ
<a href="https://newsroom.co.nz/2026/02/10/why-the-new-lng-terminal-could-raise-not-lower-your-power-bill/">Why the new LNG terminal could raise, not lower, your power bill</a> - Newsroom
<a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/opinion/ryan-bridge-the-taranaki-lng-terminal-is-a-good-idea-depending-on-who-you-ask/">Ryan Bridge: The Taranaki LNG terminal is a good idea, depending on who you ask</a> - NewstalkZB
<a href="https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360933552/second-interim-boss-appointed-ara-ake-work-continues-find-next-ceo">Second interim boss appointed at Ara Ake as work continues to find next CEO</a> - The Post
<a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/300927445/energy-research-centre-ara-ake-secures-70-million-in-funding-to-support-innovation">Energy research centre Ara Ake secures $70 million in funding to support innovation</a> - Stuff
<a href="https://www.araake.co.nz/news/impact-report-showcases-the-latest-projects-and-pilots">Ara Ake Impact Report 2025</a> - Ara Ake
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We're here to help you find a way with a curation of the &lsquo;best bits&rsquo; from top business podcasts. 
Save time searching; subscribe to the SME Stream where you can listen to relevant, timely, business-related content today.&nbsp;
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