Businesses can electrify their operations to unlock significant long-term cost savings, build greater resilience against grid disruptions, and achieve decarbonisation goals to meet environmental regulations and consumer demand. On this page Destination Queenstown (DQ) and Lake Wānaka Tourism (LWT) members will find tools and resources to help understand how electrifying your business can cut energy costs, reduce carbon emissions and improve operational resilience.
Why Electrify?
Rewiring Aotearoa's 2024 report showed New Zealand is one of the first countries in the world to reach the electrification tipping point - meaning it was cheaper to buy, finance and run electric appliances and cars than gas, petrol and diesel ones. Their latest report indicates the country has moved even further beyond the tipping point, with the savings gap between the two ends of the spectrum now doubled.
For tourism businesses, this trend suggests that electrification is an economic opportunity rather than just an environmental initiative. However, energy emissions are crucial to addressing a changing climate - around 75% of the world’s emissions come from energy use. By switching to electric vehicles, efficient electric heating, or induction cooking, businesses can take practical steps to lower emissions, improve the bottom line, and future-proof operations.
To help you understand what electrification could look like in your business and the benefits to be realised, we’ve created this simple guide.
The Queenstown Electrification Accelerator's (QEA) vision is to build the 2050 energy system by 2030 - demonstrating how businesses can achieve lower energy bills, lower emissions and greater resilience. Providing free, independent advice, the QEA team help businesses take confident steps toward electrification. QEA will work with you to assess the potential benefits and savings, whether it's installing solar and batteries, transitioning your fleet, or upgrading equipment. Check out the wide range of resources on their website below.
The below resources and information have been pulled from New Zealand's key energy experts including Rewiring Aotearoa, Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (ECCA) and Queenstown Electrification Accelerator (QEA), among others. Navigate the areas of opportunity below and reach out to QEA for further independent advice.
Solar & Batteries
Installing solar and battery storage can help businesses cut operating costs, reduce emissions, and improve energy resilience. Solar power is now one of the lowest-cost sources of electricity available, allowing many businesses to generate a significant portion of their own energy on-site and reduce exposure to rising electricity prices. With financing options available, many businesses can save money from day one.
Battery storage can increase savings by storing solar energy for later use, while also providing backup power during outages. In Queenstown and Wānaka, where the potential impacts of an Alpine Fault (AF8) earthquake highlight the importance of resilience planning, solar and batteries can play an important role in strengthening business continuity, while supporting Queenstown Lakes' transition to a lower-emissions economy.
Find out how, why and common FAQs with The Queenstown Electrification Accelerator (QEA)'s dedicated pages on Solar and Batteries.
Business battery programme
Access up to 40% EECA co-funding for your business battery project.
Led by The Queenstown Electrification Accelerator (QEA) in collaboration with Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC), the programme helps eligible Queenstown Lakes businesses explore battery projects that could lower electricity costs, improve energy resilience and make better use of electricity.
Find out if the opportunity is right for your business here.
Will solar work at my business location?
If you're considering solar for your business premises, there's a good chance other businesses in your area have already made the switch and are benefiting from lower energy costs. The Queenstown Electrification Accelerator (QEA)'s Solar Map shows solar installations nearby providing useful insights to help you understand how solar is being adopted within your local area.
NIWA’s Solar view allows you to check your sunlight hours - in many cases, even if your roof doesn't get a lot of sun or face the right way, solar panels could still work because they generate electricity even when it’s cloudy.
Solar for renters
How can tenants take advantage of solar energy if they do not own the building they occupy? The Queenstown Electrification Accelerator (QEA) is exploring ways to make solar power more accessible for commercial leased properties, helping both tenants and property owners share in the benefits. Find out the details on how solar for renters works here.
Business case: European Bakery made a strategic decision to electrify their operations when moving to their new premises. As they lease the building, European Bakery worked closely with their landlord to structure a mutually beneficial agreement. Read the full case study on the QEA's local stories.
Selecting the best solar system can seem complicated, but having the right information makes the process much simpler. The Queenstown Electrification Accelerator (QEA)'s Solar Quote Comparison Tool allows you to review and compare proposals from multiple installers in one place, helping you choose the option that best suits your business's needs.
Finance and group discounts
Upfront investment is often the barrier to getting solar. This how-to guide provides an overview of bank loans and purchase power agreements as finance pathways for businesses.
Try out The Queenstown Electrification Accelerator (QEA)'s Loan Calculator.
The QEA are looking for ways to make solar adoption easier and cheaper. The team are creating pathways to harness the community's collective purchasing power, and get group discounts with installers. Find out more here.
The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (ECCA) has an Energy Finance Provider Directory that helps businesses identify finance providers that support energy efficiency, electrification, renewable energy and low-emissions technology projects.
Vehicle Fleet
Electric vehicles (EVs) are significantly more energy efficient than petrol-powered cars, using around a quarter of the energy required. Depending on driving routines, they can also reduce annual fuel expenses by several hundreds to thousands of dollars. For tourism businesses, switching to electric vehicles can lower running and maintenance expenses, significantly reduce your business's carbon footprint, and enhance competitive advantage to increasingly sustainability-conscious travellers. EVs also provide a quieter, smoother ride, creating a more enjoyable experience for visitors.
With a growing range of electric fleets to support different trip types, and rapid improvements in battery and charging technology, EVs are becoming a practical option for a variety of tourism operations.
Queenstown Electrification Accelerator (QEA)'s Electrify your Fleet follows a step-by-step guide, including a cost comparison table and myth-busting FAQs.
The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA)'s Benefits of Electric Work Vehicles webpage details the advantages and considerations of an EV fleet - from a small business fleet, to heavy vehicles.
Rewiring Aotearoa's This Car Can elaborates on what an electric vehicle CAN do, claiming it is "good for your wallet, better for the environment, and very easy to do". The webpage compares EV's with their petrol counterparts, a cost comparison of operating costs, and the latest charging information.
EVDB explores a wide range of EVs to compare, and Drive Electric has helpful information on charging corporate fleets.
Business case: Mana Tāhuna identified fleet transport as a clear opportunity to reduce operational costs and emissions while improving long-term efficiency. Read the full case study on the QEA's local stories.
Experience an EV
The QEA have teamed up with NordEast and Carbn to provide a selection EVs to trial. Find out more and book a test drive here.
EV finance options
Regular finance is available through car dealerships. Check out the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (ECCA)'s total cost of ownership calculator to help understand how the higher initial purchase price is more economical over time with lower running costs.
Many banks in New Zealand provide business financing for sustainability and energy-efficiency initiatives. These business loans are often with heavily discounted interest rates. The QEA have a finance breakdown table to compare options on one page.
MoneyHub’s EV Loans guide also includes financing options that are not covered on the above QEA table.
Heavy vehicles make up less than 5% of New Zealand's vehicle fleet, but account for roughly a quarter of road transport emissions. The Low Emissions Heavy Vehicle Fund (LEHVF) aims to partially offset upfront costs - find out if your business is eligible.
Vehicle to grid (V2G)
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (ECCA), Rewiring Aotearoa and Queenstown Electrification Accelerator (QEA) are supporting a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) trial in a selection of businesses and homes to understand how the technology can be integrated in New Zealand. V2G technology allows electric vehicles to be put to use when parked, by suppling their stored energy back to businesses, or the wider electricity network. This can help reduce energy costs, ease pressure on the grid during periods of high demand, and provide extended backup power during outages or emergencies.
Visit this page if you are interested in taking part in the trial or want to stay updated with the technology.
Space Heating, Cooling & Hot Water
Electric heat pumps are three to four times more efficient than gas space heaters because they transfer heat rather than generate it through combustion. This means they can deliver the same level of heating while using significantly less energy - helping businesses reduce operating costs, lower emissions, and improve energy efficiency. Over time, these savings can offset the upfront investment, making heat pumps an increasingly cost-effective option for commercial buildings.
Hot water heat pumps provide a lower-emissions option for generating hot water and heating spaces in commercial buildings, offering an alternative to conventional water-heating systems. They use 70% less energy than gas water heaters and can save businesses thousands of dollars.
Dive deeper into the common FAQs for hot water heating with the QEA's dedicated page.
For commercial buildings the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (ECCA) has a specific page covering how it works, what commercial businesses heat pumps are suitable for, benefits and a cost breakdown.
Many banks in New Zealand provide business financing for sustainability and energy-efficiency initiatives. These business loans are often with heavily discounted interest rates. The QEA have a finance breakdown table to compare options on one page.
The QEA are creating pathways to make access to hot water heat pumps cheaper, by harnessing the community's collective purchasing power, and securing discounts with suppliers. Find out more here.
Cooking
The hospitality industry relies heavily on energy‑intensive kitchen operations. With LPG becoming more expensive due to supply constraints, the transition to electric cooktops not only makes financial sense, but also brings benefits beyond emissions reduction. Induction cooktops in particular are two to three times more thermally efficient than gas appliances, improves indoor air quality and workplace safety, have lower maintenance costs, and can boil water faster.
Consumer. compares the different types of cooktop options on the market.
The business case
In 2026 Skyline transitioned from LPG to a fully electrified commercial kitchen. This is estimated to avoid 44 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually and save $36,000 in annual operating cost (and increasing). Since the transition, Skyline has seen improved working conditions in the kitchen as it is cooler, quieter, safer. As well as a reduced reliance on volatile gas markets. Read the full case study on the QEA's local stories.
After relocating, The European Bakery took the opportunity to future-proof their operations. To do this they transitioned their ovens from gas to electric, and implemented smart energy systems to optimise overall energy use, particularly across their refrigeration. Find out more on the QEA's local stories.
In 2025, Christchurch Casino replaced gas-powered equipment in its commercial kitchens and laundry with electric alternatives, reducing emissions while improving operational efficiency and delivering strong business value. This case study shows that hospitality operations can successfully electrify and gain benefits beyond emissions reduction.
Electrify Queenstown Event
Are you a business thinking about upgrading your machines and appliances, or where your energy comes from? Want to save money, boost productivity, reduce your environmental impact, and futureproof the way you power your business, but not sure where to start? Electrify Queenstown is for you.
Find out about everything from government policy and green finance to the financial benefits of converting your vehicle fleet. Attend practical workshops on topics like adopting solar, demos of world-first electric tech, and Electric Experiences – fun and informative field trips to inspiring local projects.
