Decarbonisation and Energy Efficiency in Industry and Commerce

• Date: 2–6 November 2026
• Registration closes: 24 August 2026
• Venue: Online
• Fees: Participation in the Energy Business Mission is subject to the EU De Minimis Regulation. The programme is subsidised for eligible German SMEs.
  The participant contribution depends on company size:
  • Micro enterprises: €125 (plus VAT, where applicable)
  • Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs): €425 (plus VAT)
  • Large enterprises: €750 (plus VAT)

Overview

Together with Renac AG, the German-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce (AHK New Zealand) cordially invites you to participate in the Digital Energy Business Mission on Decarbonisation and Energy Efficiency in Industry and Commerce, organised as part of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy's (BMWE) Energy Export Initiative.

By joining this mission, you will be able to prepare your market entry into New Zealand in a targeted way while establishing valuable connections with key stakeholders in the field of energy-efficient industrial solutions.

A core component of the programme consists of individually tailored virtual B2B matchmaking meetings, designed specifically for each participating company. In addition, the Digital Industry Conference on 3 November 2026 offers participants the opportunity to present their products and solutions to a high-level New Zealand audience.

The mission is primarily aimed at export-oriented German small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in the energy efficiency sector that wish to position their solutions in the New Zealand market and establish long-term business partnerships.

What You Can Expect

As part of the Energy Business Mission, participants will benefit from the following programme modules:

• Target Market Study: Participants receive a comprehensive market report specifically prepared for the mission, covering the regulatory framework, market opportunities, and profiles with contact details of key companies, institutions, organisations, government agencies, and relevant decision-makers in New Zealand.
• Digital Industry Conference: Showcase your products and solutions to a selected audience of New Zealand industry experts and decision-makers through a presentation and moderated discussion.
• Individual B2B Meetings: AHK New Zealand will organise customised virtual meetings with carefully selected potential business partners and customers. 

Target Group

New Zealand offers attractive business opportunities for German providers of energy-efficient industrial technologies. Increasing regulatory requirements for industrial decarbonisation are driving demand for innovative solutions and international expertise.

German companies are particularly well positioned to contribute through their technological know-how, integrated energy-efficient system solutions, and extensive industry experience.

The mission is particularly relevant for companies offering solutions in the following areas:

• Electrification of industrial processes: Heat pumps, power-to-heat solutions, and high-temperature technologies.
• Industrial energy efficiency: Energy management systems, waste heat recovery, automation, and high-efficiency cooling and refrigeration technologies.
• Renewable energy and on-site generation: Solar PV, solar thermal, and wind energy, particularly when combined with battery storage. New Zealand is expanding its renewable electricity generation to achieve its climate targets.
• Energy storage technologies: Solutions supporting grid stability, industrial process energy, and the integration of variable renewable energy sources.
• Commercial sector decarbonisation: Hotels, healthcare facilities, cold storage facilities, and business parks are increasingly investing in energy efficiency measures and integrated solar-plus-storage solutions. 

Market Information

New Zealand presents promising market opportunities for German companies specialising in decarbonisation and energy efficiency solutions for industry and commerce. The country has legally committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, with the exception of biogenic methane. Industry is a key focus, as it is New Zealand's second-largest source of emissions and will need to modernise its energy supply, production processes, and energy efficiency over the coming years.

Although some climate programmes have been adjusted since 2024, New Zealand's sector-specific emissions reduction targets remain in place. At the same time, economic forecasts for 2027 point to a recovery following the recent recession, increasing investment activity, and growing demand for cost-effective technologies that reduce both energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. This creates an attractive business environment for German suppliers of energy-efficient and climate-friendly technologies across a range of industries.

Particularly promising sectors include the dairy and food processing industries, which require large amounts of process heat; the timber and construction industries, with significant potential for biomass and advanced drying technologies; the chemical and petrochemical industries; and the wider manufacturing sector. Transport and logistics are also creating new opportunities through fleet electrification, charging infrastructure, and vehicle conversion. Within the commercial sector, hotels, healthcare facilities, cold storage operators, and business parks are increasingly investing in energy efficiency measures, solar PV systems, battery storage, and energy management solutions.

Significant market potential exists in the electrification of industrial processes through technologies such as heat pumps, power-to-heat systems, and high-temperature heating solutions. There is also strong demand for energy management systems, waste heat recovery, industrial automation, high-efficiency cooling and refrigeration technologies, renewable self-generation solutions, and energy storage systems that improve grid stability, support industrial processes, and facilitate the integration of renewable energy.