Richard Meade, Magnus Söderberg: Winter electricity prices are rising

Winter electricity prices are rising – how do we know we’re getting value for money?

Winter is coming to New Zealand and Australia, and with it come those inevitably higher power bills from heating our homes.

Faith Jeremiah: The renewable energy hidden in our wastewater ponds – here’s how it could work

New Zealand is confronting a perfect storm.

Its energy grid faces three pressing challenges at once: an unreliable electricity supply, strict emissions reduction targets and ongoing environmental issues related to wastewater ponds.

As the country prepares to meet growing energy demands, the variability of wind, solar and hydroelectric power has made year-round electricity generation hard to ensure.

Stuart Smith: Ethical Trade vs Solar Panels

We have rooftop solar at home which has proven to be a sound investment and has made us far more aware of our electricity consumption, thanks to the helpful app. We’ve consciously changed how we consume electricity, to maximise our use of solar power.

Last year New Zealand’s distributed solar generation capacity increased by 33.8 per cent, which is a record increase, so there are many others also enjoying the benefits of rooftop solar.

However, have you ever wondered where solar panels are manufactured and what goes into making them?