Canterbury is one of the fastest growing regions in New Zealand. To fuel this growth energy is used in many areas including transport, agriculture, the power industry, manufacturing, domestic usage and business. Regional growth puts pressure on the systems that supply the region’s growing energy demands. Planning for the future security of energy supply is both a national and regional issue with individuals and local communities looking for planning solutions that provide good outcomes for both New Zealand and the local region. Local regions have local energy usage trends, and continued reliance on centralised planning is not seen as the only way forward. Many communities are asking for a more balanced approach between top down planning and local distributed options.

A new approach to planning that takes better account of regional opportunities, industry capacity and local needs, can focus on creating local opportunities and delivering an overall improved energy supply system. This project aims to develop and outline such a process.