Community Energy Activator
The Taranaki Community Energy Activator is a learning programme that helps individuals and groups develop project plans and business models for community energy success.
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Community energy plays a pivotal role in ensuring an equitable transition as we move towards decarbonisation and a net-zero future. By empowering local communities to actively participate in and benefit from renewable energy, a sustainable and inclusive energy landscape can be created.
What is the Community Energy Activator
The Community Energy Activator is a 13-week learning journey, based on the Ara Ake Community Energy How-To-Guide, guides individuals and groups through the process of establishing community energy projects. The Activator programme brings numerous benefits to communities by democratising energy knowledge, making it accessible to everyone, and empowering communities to take control of their energy future, even with little prior knowledge. It provides the tools, confidence and insights needed to create projects that are both effective and tailored to the specific needs of their communities.
The 2025 Taranaki Community Energy Activator
From 15 September to 9 December 2025, the Taranaki Activator brought together a cohort of passionate people to accelerate real-world community energy projects. Over the three-month programme, participants learned from technical experts and peers while advancing initiatives designed to support sustainable, locally led energy solutions.
Delivered in partnership by Powerco, Ara Ake, the Community Energy Network, and the Community Energy Taranaki group, the Activator provided hands-on support, expert mentoring, and practical tools that empowered communities to shape their own energy futures.
Read more about the projects and groups here.
The 2024 Canterbury Community Energy Activator
The first round
The Community Energy Activator in Canterbury was a collaborative initiative between Ara Ake, Orion Group and the Community Energy Network. The first Activator programme took place from September 2024 to November 2024. The insights from this initiative are being shared through the Community Energy Network and Ara Ake, with Orion disseminating relevant learnings to other electricity distribution businesses through the ENA Future Networks Forum. The review below provides a summary of the pilot.
The Community Energy Activator Impact Review
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Impact Unlocked
The first Activator programme offered Orion – the local lines company in the Canterbury region – valuable insights into emerging community energy models and their potential impact on their electricity distribution business. Support from regional electricity distribution businesses is critical to the success of the Activator.
Resources
- Find out more on the Activator website: www.ceactivator.co.nz
- Community Energy How-To-Guide
- The Community Energy Activator Impact Review
Media
- 10 December 2025: Community groups present their energy projects as part of the Activator programme
- 10 August 2025: Community Energy Activator launches in Taranaki
- 3 December 2024: Communities leading the way in energy resilience
- 9 July 2024: Energy pilot launches to empower local communities
