TLC is a customer owned network. What that means is profit TLC makes is given back to those consumers that own the network in the way of a TLC Discount to those who live in the Northern part of the network – this is paid by way of a credit on their electricity retail bill twice a year. Working with Te Nehenehenui Trust is an opportunity to work with one of the largest stakeholders in our business. Developing a peer-to-peer trading platform which will enable our community to share energy amongst themselves is another way to give back to our customers. Being an energy enabler is an important part of what we do at TLC.

It supports TLC’s four strategic pou designed to help people thrive. The project will make energy more accessible for our community. Utilising renewable energy and communities’ ability to share it is the most sustainable way forward. By utilising our network to share energy this is far more efficient than other expensive options like batteries. Our community’s energy demands are rising, and decarbonisation could cause a rise in inequality. This pilot will help the sharing of energy – growing communities’ ability to generate power in the places that are best suited to area’s that are suited for solar and then sharing that energy to others on the network.

Under the Te Nehenehenui Trust’s current Strategic Plan, this kaupapa supports the focus on long-term whānau wellbeing and enables regional development for Maniapoto through infrastructure development under Pou Tahua (Strategy & Development) priorities.

We believe recipients will benefit in several ways including reduced energy costs, greater accessibility to energy, and improved wellbeing. Participants will also be supporting the country’s push for cleaner energy solutions by using electricity generated from the sun’s renewable resource. This also supports energy education through our communities and rohe.

Maniapoto Marae Solar Solutions Project.

The Lines Company (TLC) and the Te Nehenehenui Trust agreed to collaborate to:

1. Commission the installation on two selected Marae
2. Assist with the collection of data to analyse the impact of this project

The Maniapoto Māori Trust Board engaged the services of Aotahi Ltd to manage their obligations to the project on their behalf of which Aroha Bidois, an employee of Aotahi Ltd, is the Project Lead.

There are a total of 56 solar panels, which are REC branded units with a 330W power output.

They have a 25-year warranty.

Yes, at the end of the 12-month pilot.

The Marae receives all the power they can use from the solar panels, any extra energy that is generated is gifted to 5 households of the Marae’s choice.

The solar panels are under the manufacturer’s warranty. However, the panels need to be regularly cleaned to ensure they produce the most energy possible. The Marae will learn how to maintain the panels with support from the installer/supplier, TLC & Te Nehenehenui Trust.

It is a software platform which enables the Marae to allocate or gift excess energy to chosen households.  Basically, it is where one customer (the Marae) can nominate other customers (the Households) who are with the same energy provider (Ecotricity) to share their surplus energy with.

No, the lines portion of the charges remain as we still need to operate the network, including the power lines which take the excess energy away from the solar panels and return it to the households receiving it.

The peer-to-peer platform shares energy in real-time, so when the sun is shining on the panels, and they are producing energy, the energy is being shared. Shared energy will be shown as a credit on the bill from Ecotricity.

No, the Marae owns the power.

No fees are charged to Marae or participants for the peer-to-peer trading platform.

All participants must use Ecotricity as their energy retailer as they are partnering in the development of the platform.

For the duration of the pilot, all participants are required to have Ecotricity as their retailer.

Each Marae Trustees will select 5 households for the pilot, with Kaumātua as priority, where possible.

No, this decision is made by the Marae Trustees.

There are no batteries, any surplus energy generated is shared, not stored.

Yes. For a period of 12-months any surplus energy that is generated must be shared. After the pilot has finished, the Marae can use their assets for any purpose the like.

TLC’s standard lines charges apply to all connections (as they normally would), there are no additional charges. TLC are also covering the costs to prove the peer-to-peer trading platform is suitable for sharing energy.

Nothing, there are no immediate or ongoing costs for any Marae or participants. There are no contracts, fees or ongoing costs after the project has ended.

Each installation has an inverter and an export/import meter installed. It’s technical stuff, but basically it’s a metered box which lets the energy travel in both directions.

No – the initial Marae selection was done based on Marae that already had the necessary infrastructure to export the large amount of energy that the solar panels generate.

There will be an App that can be downloaded where participants can see the generation.

The peer-to-peer trading platform and smart meter monitor the import and export of energy in real time. This is something completely new to the New Zealand electricity market. That is why this trial is so important.

No.

This project is for two Marae. Once the pilot is complete, we will be able to discuss the opportunity for further Marae.