Current position
Dunedin has inspiring examples of what community groups, businesses, and researchers working on innovative energy projects can achieve. The Energy Plan 1.0 will support these activities and encourage further action in new areas.
Potential community energy initiatives range from relatively modest requests for funding for energy education to more ambitious plans for local wind generation. Somewhere in between, there are infrastructure concepts such as a central city electric car and bike charging station.
Action and delivery
Rather than considering each initiative as a potential stand-alone Energy Plan 1.0 activity, this action recognises that many emerging energy ideas may benefit from forms of support that already exist. It is not about identifying every idea that has or will emerge but rather identifying the mechanisms that can help Dunedin communities realise their energy ambitions.
On the business side, the Grow Dunedin Partnership is already assisting a range of entrepreneurs. This support is a good avenue for commercial and social enterprises seeing a future in energy. The Audacious programme and Startup Space are ideally suited to students and entrepreneurs looking to establish a foothold for energy innovations. This is especially so in Dunedin, given our access to skills and research through the involvement of the Otago Polytechnic and University of Otago. Likewise, Enterprise Dunedin’s Business Hub business advice clinics are free and accessible to all.
Dunedin’s GigCity status has extended the services and resources available to the digital sector, which increasingly overlaps with the energy sector through big data, smart control systems and the ‘internet of things’. GigCity has seen the Digital Ambassadors programme extended and the Co.Starters service created.
Crowdfunding, where money is raised from the community at large, can be powerful in the energy space, particularly for community, social enterprise and commercial start-ups. The DCC has, in principle, commitment from PledgeMe to provide a platform through which Energy Fast-Track projects can seek crowdfunding in a supported way.
There is demand for a dedicated fund for small-scale energy projects that offer community benefits, potentially with new, energy-specific funding added in to the DCC’s existing grants framework. Standard criteria apply to all grant applications but applications would also need to meet specific energy criteria (e.g. must demonstrate a clear contribution to Energy Plan 1.0 goals and strategic objectives). Grants funding is typically awarded twice a year.
To complete the circle of action throughout the city, the Energy Leaders Accord is intended to involve those partners in supporting smaller businesses and community organisations through mentoring, encourage local procurement of energy services and begin to direct corporate social responsibility activities to community energy initiatives.
Measuring success
Successful delivery of this action will result in:
- a growing number of energy sector clients approaching Grow Dunedin Partnership/Enterprise Dunedin programmes
- matched funding leveraged, e.g. for every dollar made available through grant processes, a further two dollars are invested by the non-government sector.
Key delivery partners
The principal partners for the Energy Fast-Track will be Grow Dunedin partners in the first instance:
- Dunedin City Council
- Otago Chamber of Commerce
- Otago Polytechnic
- Otago Southland Employers’ Association
- University of Otago
| Confirmed activities | ||
| Delivery activities | Lead organisations | Measuring progress |
|---|---|---|
| Specifically acknowledge and support Energy Fast-Track in Grow Dunedin Partnership programmes, including Startup, Audacious and Business Hub |
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| Provide access to energy expertise for Energy Fast-Track projects and assist with leveraging funding from other sources |
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| Formalise arrangement with crowdfunding service provider, PledgeMe |
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| Explore additional funding sources, e.g. potential corporate contributions from Dunedin energy leaders |
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| Subject to funding, establish an Energy Fast-Track component of the DCC grants scheme, and include an energy representative on the Grants Subcommittee |
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| Establish community energy awards or create a community energy award within an existing awards structure or nominate community energy projects for relevant national/international awards |
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Photo by Stefan Mutch