Organisations from across New Zealand’s energy industry are backing a first-ever, nationwide call for innovative ideas, ventures and products in electricity and sustainable energy.

Lightning Lab Electric is inviting every coder, inventor, tinkerer, engineer, or ideas person to enter an Innovation Challenge, with ideas pushing boundaries in how consumers and businesses use, manage, distribute, transmit, and generate power.

“With massive challenges facing the world in how we use and manage energy, we know New Zealand’s engineers, scientists and entrepreneurs are already working on solutions from their workshops, classrooms, studios, work spaces, and wherever else they may be.

“This is an opportunity to put up their solutions as part of a new generation in how we use and manage energy,” said Creative HQ chief executive Stefan Korn.

Improve the use of electricity

Entries are open to ideas, prototypes and products with the potential to improve the use of electricity as we know it – hardware, smart gadgets, software, dynamic consumption models, new business models, distribution systems, and more.

Run by innovation agency Creative HQ with Callaghan Innovation, the programme is sponsored by Genesis Energy, Westpac NZ, GE New Zealand, Unison Networks, and Z Energy, with support from New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.

Entries for the Innovation Challenge are open 1 February to 20 March, 2017. Selected finalists will present to an expert industry panel for the chance to win prizes and access to industry partners.

For entry details, FAQs and further information visit innovationchallenge.co.nz

Genesis Energy powers Schoolgen, a programme developed to help schools shine a light on solar energy across New Zealand. More information and resources at schoolgen.co.nz