Our research centre

The Energy Centre aims to be widely regarded as the independent and balanced authority on New Zealand’s energy priorities and initiatives.

About the Energy Centre

Based in the Economics Department of the University of Auckland Business School, the Energy Centre was founded in late 2004 and is part-funded by a private trust and other industry partners.

The Centre has strong links to the School of Engineering and the Faculty of Science. It nurtures active cooperation with other university disciplines and groups, including the Electricity Power Optimization Centre, the Electric Power Systems Group, the Transport Research Centre, and the New Zealand Centre for Supply Chain Management.

The Energy Centre is an institutional member of the International Association of Energy Economists.

Download the Energy Centre fact sheet below

Our mission

The Energy Centre’s mission:
To provide research policy analysis and educational programmes to help business and government confront energy issues of national significance to New Zealand.

The Energy Centre will accomplish this mission by:

  • Undertaking energy research and business and policy analysis and reviews that examine energy-related issues important to New Zealand’s future
  • Reporting our findings and observations to the energy sector, government and academic communities
  • Providing energy-related education that creates future leaders for academia, business and government
  • Offering the University of Auckland Business School as a respected neutral venue for deep dialogue about critical issues and problems facing New Zealand’s energy future

The main output areas of the Energy Centre are:

  • Education, including two energy economics courses, scholarships, masters and PhD students
  • Research focused on New Zealand's energy sector, especially in the area of electricity and renewables
  • Outreach to engage with industry and government, disseminate research findings, initiate discussions and stimulate interest in the area of Energy Economics within and outside the University of Auckland through publications, submissions, regular seminars, workshops and participation in conferences

Centre Annual Reports

Annual reports

Latest Annual Report will be uploaded soon.