NEW PHD PROJECT EXPLORES GREATER ELECTRICITY RESILIENCE IN RURAL COMMUNITIES

The New Zealand National Fieldays Society, in partnership with Waipā Networks and in collaboration with Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington and Lincoln University, has launched a three-year PhD project to explore how rural resilience can be improved by focusing on how electricity is used, produced, and shared on farms.

This will be achieved by integrating distributed energy resources into farming activities, conversion of on-farm activities to electricity and the development of a farmer-to-farmer electricity trading system. The project aims to strengthen the resilience of rural power networks by enabling farmers to generate, use, and share renewable electricity. Funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment under its Workforce Initiatives, it brings together academic research and practical industry application.

Growing pressures around decarbonisation, electrification, and energy security are increasing the need for new on-farm energy solutions. The farming sector is well placed to lead New Zealand’s energy transition. On-farm generation, storage, and electrified equipment are now practical and cost-effective, allowing farms to power their operations and supply excess energy to local networks. New technologies such as agrivoltaics and floating solar further expand this potential by producing electricity alongside normal farming activity. Using distribution networks to trade electricity within local, autonomous mini-markets offers opportunities for lower costs, reduced network losses, diversified revenue streams, and greater rural community resilience during periods of high demand or natural disasters.

Electricity distribution company Waipā Networks, which operates across rural, urban, and industrial areas, plays a central role in enabling this research by providing network expertise, access to real-world infrastructure, and the operational insight needed to develop and test a scalable energy trading model.

As a 100% customer-owned business with responsibility for powering Fieldays each year, it has a long-standing commitment to reliable, cost-effective distribution and to connecting the people and places it serves. This makes it a strong partner for advancing practical, community-focused energy solutions that strengthen local resilience and support shared energy independence.

“We’re proud to partner with the Society on a project that explores practical solutions for rural energy resilience and local energy trading,” said Waipā Networks Chief Executive Sean Horgan.

“Because we’re deeply connected to the communities in our region, we see real value in initiatives that help neighbours support one another through smarter, more flexible energy systems. If we can share these findings at Fieldays and reach more than 100,000 visitors, it has significant potential to help rural communities manage electricity more efficiently while supporting Aotearoa New Zealand’s decarbonisation goals.”

“This initiative highlights the value of collaboration between Waipā Networks and the Society,” said Richard Lindroos, Chief Executive at the Society. “It will deliver practical insights for managing energy at Fieldays and Mystery Creek Events Centre, helping future-proof critical infrastructure and create rural energy solutions that can be replicated nationwide. Fieldays has long been a platform for innovation, and we look forward to sharing the progress and findings with attendees at future events.”

The PhD student will work across four phases over three years, based at Te Herenga Waka and Lincoln University for academic study, and at Waipā Networks and Mystery Creek Events Centre for industry engagement. Mystery Creek, home of Fieldays, experiences some of the country’s highest variance in electricity demand due to the annual four-day event. As a critical civil-defence location, the site also requires rapid responsiveness to demand surges and a high level of energy self-reliance, making it an ideal case study for scalable rural energy models.

The project will test local energy markets and develop a cloud-based platform for managing real-time operations, including demand-side response and optimised dispatch informed by weather forecasts and wholesale price signals. For the Society, the research will provide a roadmap for managing energy use, reducing line charges, improving resilience, and demonstrating leadership in sustainable rural electrification. This aligns with the Society’s long-term blueprint for land use, asset development, and sustainable growth through integrated green infrastructure, ensuring the organisation is well placed to support the future needs of New Zealand’s primary industries.

More information about the project titled Cooperative Farmer-to-Farmer Energy Trading for Resilient Rural Power Networks, and the Applied Doctorates Scheme is available online at https://applieddoctorates.nz/.