07/09/2026
Our team recently attended the SEANZ Conference 2026 - Electric Elections, largest gathering for solar, battery storage, electrification and smart energy technologies. Over 600 delegates each day and two full days of technical sessions, panels and exhibitions, it was a clear signal of just how fast this sector is moving. A few takeaways worth sharing:
• Solar is scaling up fast and New Zealand has now passed 1GW of installed solar capacity, with both utility-scale and rooftop growth accelerating nationwide.
• Battery storage is shifting from a future consideration to a critical component of many energy projects, improving resilience, maximising renewable generation, and supporting grid stability.
• AI-powered monitoring, autonomous inspections, and data-driven asset management are enabling earlier fault detection, improving efficiency, and increasing long-term asset reliability.
• Collaboration is fundamental for growth among developers, network operators, financiers, and government entities. All emphasised that early engagement and increased coordination are crucial for unlocking the next phase of renewable projects.
• The workforce remains the primary obstacle. Across the sector, the most common barrier to growth is the lack of skilled labour, highlighting the need for better training programs and career pathways in renewables.
RCR Infrastructure (NZ), DataGuard, and RCR Renewable observe these changes in the work we do every day, from the solar systems we install, to the power continuity solutions we protect, and to the critical infrastructure we maintain nationwide.
It was valuable to engage with the broader sector and incorporate these insights into how we serve our clients.
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