Power Innovation Pathway
Kia ora innovators
Welcome to the Power Innovation Pathway
The Power Innovation Pathway is our ‘open front door’ for innovators wanting easy access to regulatory information and support to bring fresh ideas to market faster.
This could be a concept with wider benefits, or a local solution for your community.
To ‘step in the door’ and open the conversation with us, we invite you to tell us a bit about your new idea or concept by completing the Pathway entry form. This should only take you 10-15 minutes.
Priority applications for Round 1 of the Power Innovation Pathway closed on 18 October 2024. Applications for light touch regulatory support, as well as Round 2 of the Pathway, remain open.
Enter the Pathway
Access regulatory information and support.
Round 1 applications
In Round 1 we received 44 applications from a diverse set of applicants. We will work with select innovators to provide bespoke advice to foster innovation and progress solutions to benefit Aotearoa's electricity sector and consumers.
How it works
Pathway visualisation
Step by step
The Pathway provides a streamlined process for innovators to receive regulatory advice and support through the following steps:
Step 1: Enter the pathway
Innovators submit their ideas through the Pathway entry form, designed to streamline the initial engagement process.
Step 2: We review your information
We review each innovator's entry and provide a tailored response. Responses could range from initial advice to next-step recommendations or a request for clarification.
Step 3: We meet with you
Where more in-depth engagement and/or advice is required, we will meet with innovators to clarify their needs, regulatory questions and potential next steps. This helps achieve mutual understanding of the challenges and opportunities.
Step 4: Project presentation
Additional support will be offered as part of a trial regulatory programme to selected participants who enter the Pathway by 18 October 2024.
We will invite innovators we identify as likely to benefit from additional support to present their projects to the Electricity Authority and other industry stakeholders, to have deeper conversations about the project’s potential.
Step 5: Trial
High-value and/or highly feasible innovations will proceed to real-world trials, receiving additional mentoring and guidance to support their success.
This additional support is part of a trial regulatory programme offered to selected participants who enter the Pathway by 18 October 2024.
Visualisation pathway
Meet the energy system
We will help clarify the relationships important to your success.
Queries or feedback?
Contact us at innovate@ea.govt.nz