ARA AKE

Onwards and Upwards

As most people in Taranaki know all too well, the world is changing.

That’s especially true in the energy sector, where the transition to a low emissions energy future, must be one where everyone is brought along on the journey and no one gets left behind.

Meet Ara Ake

Headquartered in New Plymouth, Aotearoa New Zealand’s future energy centre is charged with overseeing that in a practical, pioneering manner.

That organisation is called Ara Ake. Two small words that combined mean new pathways, a journey forward – most simply, onwards and upwards. The name provides a great insight into the mentality that drives Ara Ake.

The chief executive

The governmentsponsored organisation is headed by Dr Cristiano Marantes, who loves the No 8 wire mentality of New Zealanders and is passionate about wanting to harness that, to ensure the best possible outcomes for everyone in this country.

“Starting a new organisation in the midst of a global pandemic wasn’t easy,’’ he says with a wry chuckle, “so while we’ve been going two years, most of our impact has been demonstrated in the last 12 months.

“Our mandate is to accelerate the demonstration and commercialisation of energy innovation, and to find the best global energy solutions to limit the impacts of climate change in Aotearoa New Zealand.”

The importance of innovation

“Innovation has an important role to play to deliver environmental, social and

economic benefits as we transition to a low emissions energy future.”

Already it is clear that Ara Ake is no theoretical institution removed from reality, as Dr Marantes explains.

“Ara Ake works with communities and businesses – from start-ups to large organisations – to facilitate and support demonstration projects of new and emerging technologies across the motu.

“We share knowledge from across the energy innovation landscape and promote collaboration across different stakeholders for the benefit of all New Zealanders.

“And we also help New Zealand innovators access financial and technical support to develop their technologies, bringing in offshore solutions and expertise and helping to unravel regulatory and commercial barriers.”

Dr Marantes says that there is also a huge opportunity for New Zealand to become a world class location for global innovations and innovators, and through that process, create new and exciting jobs and industries in the energy sector.

“But for innovation to succeed, it needs to address a real problem and advance our social, environmental and economic wellbeing.”

He sums up the fundamental brief of Ara Ake.

“It is understanding what are the problems that need a solution. Then we do a global search for the technology and solutions to the problems that exist and help demonstrate those solutions.

“If we can match the problem owner with the solution provider, change can happen.’’

And, best of all, it starts right here, in Taranaki!