September 13, 2024
A productive week for Carlos Martin in Aotearoa-New Zealand!
This week, BlueFloat Energy’s CEO wrapped up several important meetings focused on advancing offshore wind development in New Zealand:
- Carlos participated in the Climate Change & Business Conference CCBC24, where he stressed the importance of government policies in setting long-term goals for the energy transition. He emphasized how market-based mechanisms like Contracts for Difference (CfDs) can accelerate renewable energy deployment by de-risking investments and speeding up project delivery, as seen in the UK. CfD’s protect both developers and consumers by stabilizing electricity prices, addressing market failures and encouraging investment in supply chain and faster progress toward net-zero goals.
- At the 2024 New Zealand Wind Energy Summit (organised by NZ Wind Energy Association), where BlueFloat Energy proudly sponsored the gala dinner, Carlos highlighted the critical role of community buy-in for the success of renewable projects. He noted that while these projects address the global climate crisis, local communities often bear the direct impact. For this reason, BlueFloat Energy strongly supports the idea that obtaining a social license to operate should be part of the criteria for awarding consents.
- Carlos met with key government representatives, Iwi and local authorities, having insightful discussions on how offshore wind can contribute to New Zealand’s energy security and affordability. New Zealand is on track for the first feasibility permits to be tendered in late 2025. With the country currently grappling with high energy prices and poor energy security, there is a clear role for offshore wind to play in addressing the current supply-demand imbalance.
At BlueFloat Energy, we look forward to continuing to collaborate with local communities, government bodies, and industry partners to advance the offshore wind sector in New Zealand.
