Welcome to the Community Energy Activator.
The Community Energy Activator is designed to support communities in Ōtautahi Christchurch, Selwyn and wider Canterbury to explore, learn, and connect around community energy needs, aspirations and projects. The 2024 pilot programme is a collaboration between Ara Ake, Orion and Community Energy Network.
Your Community, Your Energy.
Discover what your community wants when it comes to energy. We explored various sustainable community energy models and topics outlined in the Ara Ake community energy guide.
Explore. Learn. Connect.
The pilot programme ran over 12 weeks; September to November 2024. With a mix of in-person hui and site visits, and a weekly online session, creating a dynamic space for communities to come together, learn alongside each other and mentors/advisors from across the country.
2024 Pilot Programme
Nine community groups from Ōtautahi Christchurch and Selwyn took part in the pilot Activator, eight of which shared their projects and learnings on 28 November 2024.
We’re excited to share the Powering Change: The Community Energy Activator Impact Review!
This review provides a summary of a pilot Community Energy Activator that was run in Canterbury from September-November 2024. The three leading organisations were The Orion Group, Ara Ake and Community Energy Network (CEN).
This is the first time an Activator like this has been conducted in Aotearoa New Zealand and this review is intended to provide insights that others can learn from when delivering their own Activator style programmes. It is the intention of both Ara Ake and the Community Energy Network to expand the Activator programmes throughout the country as a way of supporting both energy sector participants and communities themselves.