Red X iconGreen tick iconYellow tick icon

Recordings of OERC seminars can be viewed on YouTube:

See our seminar recordings

All seminars are free and open to the public.

For further information:
Email oercadmin@otago.ac.nz

OERC Seminar Series 2023

29 MarchApril Muirden
DEECA, Australia
OERC Seminar – The key to improve the energy performance of homes: Residential Efficiency Scorecard, Australia
View recording
31 MayCraig Cliff, Arjan Abeynaike, Shane Jenkins
University of Otago
OERC Seminar – Energy Living Labs at the University of Otago
View recording
12 SeptemberEric Pyle
SolarZero
OERC Seminar – Performance of solarZero's VPP during Cyclone Gabrielle
View recording
10 OctoberShane Jenkins
University of Otago
OERC Seminar – Unlocking the future: University of Otago Smart Building and BMS Analytics Project
View recording

OERC Seminar Series 2022

9 MarchOERC Summer Scholarship students:Rina Watt, Danielle Lomas, Yasmin Howell, William Hadley, Pablo Paulsen, Hannah KoningsOERC Seminar – Summer Scholarship student presentations
View recording
13 AprilCraig CliffNet Carbon Zero Programme Manager, Sustainability Office, University of OtagoTowards net zero: an update on the University of Otago's greenhouse gas emissions
View recording
10 MayDean Spicer
Sustainable finance ANZ
Sustainable Finance – supporting the transition of the energy sector: Opportunities and challanges
View recording
15 JuneShama Islam
Deakin University Victoria Fellow
Data analytics for intelligent energy systems
View recording
12 JulyJeff Smit and Elliot Jones
Deta NZ and Ministry of Education
School energy efficiency opportunities
View recording

OERC Seminar Series 2021

17 MarchAleida PowellUniversity of OtagoImpact of financial incentives on electricity use and the consequences for electricity networks: Case study of "Hour of Power" in Dunedin
19 MayCraig CliffNet Carbon Zero Programme Manager, Sustainability Office, University of OtagoNet Carbon Zero: challenges and opportunities
View recording
16 June Kiti Suomalainen
University of Auckland
Climate change and hydro in New Zealand: Impacts on long-term energy system planning
View recording
15 September Craig Rodger
BeverlyProfessor of Physics, Department of Physics
The Darkside of Aurora: Space weather risks to New Zealand energy infrastructure?
View recording
29 SeptemberGrant Telfar
Modelling and Portfolio Manager, Meridian Energy
Power without the carbon? OERC Seminar
View recording
20 OctoberAlan CaughleyPower Transition of energy systems: the move to electric aviation
View recording

OERC Seminar Series 2020

COVID-19, disruption and new energy futures

COVID-19 has turned all aspects of our world upside down.  Our 'normal' lives in lockdown would not have been imaginable just months earlier.  Energy systems have been significantly affected by COVID-19. Industrial and commercial electricity demand has been significantly reduced and the demand for transport fuel has shrunk dramatically.

As we emerge from lockdown, it is critical to question what our experiences during the lockdown might mean for how we reimagine and reconstruct our future 'new normal'.

In this OERC seminar series we invite a range of speakers from across the energy system – from industry, academics, community groups and government to reflect on what lessons we can draw from the COVID-19 pandemic that might help to accelerate a transition to a zero-carbon energy future in NZ.  This series will consist of a 20 minute talk by speakers followed by 30 minutes of discussion.

3 AprilJanet Stephenson
Director, Centre for Sustainability
COVID-19: Implications for NZ's energy future
Janet outlines how COVID-19 and its aftermath has changed the playing-field for getting to a low-carbon energy future, and some of the problems and opportunities that this will create for New Zealand.
View recording
17 JuneEric Pyle
Director Public Affairs, Solarcity
Distributed energy resources and energy innovation post COVID-19
View recording
5 AugustProfessor James Higham
Department of Tourism, School of Business
An analysis of ways to decarbonize conference travel after COVID-19
COVID-19 offers insights into radically reducing the carbon footprint of academic conferences, but what might the post-COVID future of conferences look like, and how do we advance a new conference convention for a climate-safe future?
View recording
9 SeptemberGreg Sise
Managing Director
Energy Link Limited
Towards 100% Renewable Electricity
Greg talks about current and future developments in the electricity sector including the closure of the Tiwai aluminium smelter, the proposal for pumped hydro at Lake Onslow, and how we might get to 100% renewable electricity.
View recording
30 SeptemberJinty MacTavish
Principal Policy Advisor (Sustainability)
Dunedin City Council
Zero Carbon 2030 EMAN Seminar
Jinty gives a high level overview of work currently underway at the DCC in response to the Council's adoption of a Zero Carbon 2030 target, in June 2019.
View recording
21 October

Karen Silk
GM Experience Hub
Westpac NZ

COVID-19 Impacts on the economy and energy demand.
Karen provides her thoughts on opportunities and challenges that have arisen due to COVID-19 and its aftermath and the role that Sustainable Finance can play to help mitigate future environmental and social crises.
View recording

OERC Seminar Series 2019

1 AprilJennifer MindellDriven to distraction or a move in the right direction?
1 MayOseweuba Valentine OkorMeat processing waste biorefinery for bioenergy and biochemical production
5 June Janet Stephenson and Michael JackGREEN Grid Project: Research Findings and Policy Implications on Electricity Demand
7 AugustIvan Diaz-RaineyAn Energy Policy for ASEAN? Lessons from the EU Experience on Energy Integration, Security and Decarbonisation
4 SeptemberJens GroegerMeasures to support energy-efficient products and services: Ecodesign, eco-labels and green public procurement
2 OctoberBoyang DingInnovative nanophotonic platforms for highly efficient solar-hydrogen energy conversion

OERC Seminar Series 2018

27 SeptemberAssoc Prof Sandra MandicSchool of Physical Education, Sports & Exercise Sciences"Challenges and opportunities for promoting walking and cycling to school"
6 SeptemberAssoc. Prof Bob LloydAssoc. Professor, Department of Physics, Director Raynbird Consultants“The State of the Climate, with reference to the global situation and to NZ's role.”
Watch the presentation
View slides
22 AugustProf Ulrich Nissen & Assoc Prof Ivan Diaz-RaineyNiederrhein University of Applied Sciences,
Moechengladbach, Germany
Co-Director of OERC & Assoc. Prof in Finance,
University of Otago
" Bridging the energy efficiency gap on campus – Investment appraisal and organisational procedures"
Watch the presentation
View
slides
16 AugustMatthew McCartenOxford University"Climate Change Risk Impact Opportunities Tool"
31 JulyProf James HighamDepartment of Tourism Te Tari Tapoi, Otago Business School Te Kura Pakihi, University of Otago Te Whare Wananga o Otago"Climate change and aviation: Collective action to reduce our own air travel emissions?"
Watch the presentation
5 JulyDr Ian MasonCo-Director MEngSt (Renewable Energy) Programme
Department of Civil and Natural Resources Engineering, University of Canterbury
“A Smart Energy System for New Zealand”
Watch the presentation
19 JuneAssoc Prof MJ (Thinus) BooysenElectrical & Electronic Engineering Department at Stellenbosch University,
A founder of Bridgiot, and co-creator of Geasy & Count Dropula
“The Internet of electric water heaters”
View presentation slides
7 JuneProf Henrik MollerProfessor Emeritus, Centre for Sustainability, & co-founder of Flip the Fleet“Citizen science for sustainability transitions: lessons from Flip the Fleet's efforts to accelerate uptake of electric vehicles”
View recording
3 MayTor Haken InderbergSenior Research Fellow, Director European Programme, Fridtjof Nansen Institute, Oslo, Norway"Windpower licencing processes, actor influences and nature protection in Norway"
View presentation slides
19 AprilRobert Holt (CEng MIET MSc)Callaghan Innovation"The Internet of Things (IoT) and Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN)"
View recording
12 AprilProf Ulrich NissenNiederrhein University of Applied Sciences, Moechengladbach, Germany“Measuring the profitability of PV-Prosumage (Photovoltaic Production Consumption & Storage)”
View presentation slides
1 MarchDr Ben AndersonMarie Skłodowska-Curie Global Fellow (2017-2019)SAVE: A large scale randomised control trial approach to testing domestic electricity consumption flexibility in the UK
View recording

OERC Seminar Series 2017

5 OctoberDr Mansi Mansi & Dr Rakesh PandeyAccountancy and Finance"Accounting the costs and benefits of electric vehicles"
7 SeptemberDr Anna GardenChemistry"From fertilisers to fuels – a computational approach to heterogeneous catalysis."
View recording
3 AugustDr Kimberley O'SullivanPublic Health"Exploring classroom comfort with youth researchers."
View recording
6 JulyAssoc Prof Jeremiah Deng & Sophie ZareeiInformation Science"Engaging machine learning in energy data modelling and system optimisation."
View recording
1 JuneMalcolm SmeatonPhysics, Ocean Physics"Tidal Energy: Present and Future"
View recording
17 May (Weds)Dr Virginia ToyGeology"Teaching about sustainability of earth resources and societal resilience to geological hazards in Ecuador."
View recording
4 MayDr Kiti SuomalainenCentre for Sustainability"Rooftop solar potential based on LiDAR data: an Auckland case study."
View recording
15 AprilDr Sandra MandicSchool of Physical Education,

Sport and Exercise Sciences

"BEATS Study and the Active Living and Environment Symposium."
15 MarchJeremy PittImperial College London"Decentralised Community Energy Systems & The Active Participation of Consumers." View recording

24 February

Prof. Tadj OreszczynUniversity College London

"Building Energy Efficiency and Reducing Energy Demand: Why?"
View recording

OERC Seminar Series 2016

6 OctoberDr Douglas Hill & Dr Sean ConnellyGoegraphy“Community Power? Exploring the process for change through the clean Energy for Eternity campaign in NSW, Australia”
1 SeptemberDr Sam LowreyPhysics“Enhanced evaporator gearing for increased energy efficiency in domestic drying appliances”
4 AugustHelen ViggersPublic Health"Policy settings, house structure and home warmth”
6–7 July  Energy Cultures Conference 2016 – Live streaming from Wellington
2 JuneDr Inga SmithPhysics“What are the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the movement of goods and people into and out of New Zealand?”
5 MayDr Hilary PhippsProperty Services“Universities as living labs: unlocking Otago's potential”
7 AprilDr Virginia ToyGeology“The potential uses of a geothermal resource in South Westland”
Back to top