New Zealand's journey toward net-zero emissions by 2050 hinges not just on ramping up renewable energy supply but on fundamentally reshaping how energy is consumed across homes, industries, transport, and beyond. A groundbreaking open dataset released by the University of Canterbury (UC) addresses this precisely, offering detailed projections of the country's hourly and regional energy demand through 2050. Published in the prestigious journal Scientific Data, part of the Nature Portfolio, this resource is poised to transform energy system modeling and long-term planning.

Developed by UC's Sustainable Energy Research Group (SERG), the dataset fills a longstanding gap in publicly available, transparent data. Previous studies in New Zealand have largely focused on electricity demand, leaving heat and transport sectors underexplored. This comprehensive tool disaggregates final energy demand by sector—heat, transport, and power—across energy carriers like electricity, gas, and liquid fuels, and specific technologies such as electric vehicles (EVs), heat pumps, and boilers. It provides granular insights at the hourly level (8,760 hours per year) and across 16 administrative regions, enabling precise analysis of load peaks, regional variations, and integration challenges for renewables.

Navigating New Zealand's Path to Net-Zero Emissions

New Zealand has legislated a target of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions for long-lived gases by 2050, excluding biogenic methane from agriculture, which faces separate reduction goals of 24-47% below 2017 levels. Currently, the country boasts one of the world's greenest electricity mixes—over 80% renewable from hydro, geothermal, and wind—but transport and industrial heat remain heavily reliant on fossil fuels, accounting for a significant share of emissions. Energy demand projections are crucial for scenarios modeling the scale-up of EVs, heat electrification, and synthetic fuels while maintaining grid stability amid growing loads from data centers and electrification.

The UC dataset emerges at a pivotal moment. Government projections indicate total energy-related emissions must plummet, with electricity demand potentially doubling or tripling by mid-century under high-electrification paths. Yet, uncertainties around behavioral shifts, technology adoption rates, and regional disparities persist. By providing five exploratory scenarios—Global Projections (business-as-usual global trends), National Targets (aligned with policy), ELEC+ (aggressive electrification), BIO+ (biofuel emphasis), and H₂+ (hydrogen and e-fuels)—the dataset equips planners to test diverse pathways compatible with net-zero goals.

Dataset Breakdown: Sectors, Granularity, and Scenarios

The dataset spans 2020 to 2050 in five-year increments, starting from validated baselines using official sources like the Energy End Use Database (EEUD), Ministry of Transport fleet statistics, and Stats NZ demographics. Here's a closer look:

• Heat Sector: Covers residential, commercial, and industrial uses including process heat, space heating, hot water, and cooking. Technologies range from gas boilers to heat pumps and biomass. Projections incorporate heating degree days (HDD) for warmer/cooler year variants, showing potential shifts as fossil gas declines.
• Transport Sector: Encompasses road passenger/freight, rail, marine, and aviation. Includes fuel-switching to biofuels and e-fuels, with EV adoption curves calibrated to policy targets. Electricity demand for transport aligns closely with Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) forecasts through 2030.
• Power Sector: Direct non-thermal electricity use (excluding electrified heat/transport), scaled from global studies but validated against New Zealand's nodal data with under 0.2% deviation.

Regional disaggregation uses proxies like population density and transport flows, while hourly profiles draw from empirical data such as EV charging patterns and diurnal industrial loads. Total final energy demand for 2025 hovers around 138 terawatt-hours (TWh), slightly above 2023's 132 TWh post-COVID recovery.

The Hybrid Methodology Behind Robust Projections

Creating this dataset involved a hybrid top-down/bottom-up approach. Top-down elements scaled national aggregates using global benchmarks (e.g., Keiner et al. for heat demand), while bottom-up details incorporated technology efficiencies from the Danish Energy Agency and New Zealand-specific profiles. Fuel-switching assumptions reflect policy trajectories, like biofuel mandates, and behavioral changes such as mode shifts in transport (e.g., more cycling/public transit).

Validation was rigorous: heat projections fall within ±30% of literature values, transport electricity matches MBIE to 2030, and power aligns with nodal measurements. Python scripts (pandas, numpy) and Excel facilitated processing, with a reproducibility package included for users. This transparency ensures the data's adaptability for tools like the Open Energy Modelling Framework (oemof).Access the full dataset here, comprising Excel workbooks and CSVs totaling over 200 MB.

Key Insights from Projections: Trends to Watch by 2050

Across scenarios, total demand evolves variably: ELEC+ sees heavy electricity reliance, potentially straining peaks, while BIO+ and H₂+ diversify with drop-in fuels. By 2050, transport electrification could add gigawatts to evening peaks as commuters charge, necessitating smart grids and storage. Regional differences are stark—Auckland's urban density drives higher transport/heat loads, versus South Island hydro-rich areas.

Highlights include:

• Heat demand stabilization via efficient tech, but industrial process heat lags without electrification.
• Transport: Road EVs dominate, aviation/marine slower to decarbonize.
• Power: Steady growth from non-thermal uses like data centers.

Spotlight on UC's Sustainable Energy Research Group (SERG)

UC's SERG, housed in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, specializes in simulation and optimization models for decarbonization. Led by experts like Dr. Rebecca Peer and Prof. Jannik Haas, the group collaborates internationally—with partners in Chile, Germany, and Finland on this project. SERG's work extends to full-system optimizations, estimating generation capacities and fuel production needs for net-zero.

"This dataset is a foundation for deeper analyses," notes Peer, emphasizing the technical feat of harmonizing disparate data sources. SERG's open-science ethos positions UC as a leader in New Zealand's energy research ecosystem, fostering collaborations with government bodies like MBIE and EECA.

Researchers Driving the Charge: Profiles and Perspectives

Lead author Rafaella Canessa, completing her PhD at UC before moving to ETH Zurich, underscores demand-side focus: "Net-zero requires rethinking energy use." Her expertise in energy networks bridges academia and policy. Co-supervisor Dr. Peer highlights modeling challenges, while international contributors like Hans Christian Gils (DLR, Germany) bring global modeling prowess.

This multidisciplinary team exemplifies how university research translates complex data into actionable insights, inspiring students in engineering and environmental science.Read the full paper.

The Power of Open Data in Energy Research

Open datasets like this accelerate innovation by enabling reuse in models, policy simulations, and education. Hosted on Zenodo under open license, it includes code examples for quick starts. In higher education, it equips students with real-world tools for theses on grid optimization or regional planning. Globally adaptable, it sets a benchmark for transparent energy data.

Policy and Infrastructure Implications

For policymakers, the dataset informs Emissions Reduction Plans and infrastructure consents. Hourly peaks signal needs for battery storage and demand response. Industry stakeholders—Transpower, Contact Energy—can test scenarios for renewable integration. Regional councils gain tools for equitable transitions, avoiding urban-rural divides.

Challenges include aviation decarbonization and industrial heat, where e-fuels may bridge gaps until full electrification.

Impact on Higher Education and Career Opportunities

This release underscores UC's role in New Zealand's research landscape, alongside institutions like Victoria University and Otago. It highlights demand for energy modelers, data scientists, and policy analysts. Programs in sustainable engineering prepare graduates for roles at SERG-like groups or firms like Meridian Energy. As net-zero accelerates, universities drive innovation, from PhDs like Canessa's to interdisciplinary centers.

For aspiring researchers, open data lowers barriers, fostering collaborations and publications in high-impact journals.

Photo by Tony Scadden on Unsplash

Looking Ahead: SERG's Next Steps

SERG plans full-system optimizations atop this dataset, quantifying solar/wind needs and hydrogen infrastructure. Partnerships with Horizon Europe signal global reach. This work not only aids 2050 goals but equips New Zealand for resilient, low-emission futures.