--- title: We're backing the innovators. Are you with us? description: With exploration happening all over NZ, renewable energy won't remain a one trick pony. Software must prepare to enable a diverse, decarbonised energy mix. image: https://www.fluxfederation.com/hubfs/20210810-future-focus-1.jpg --- aw of [![flux](https://www.fluxfederation.com/hubfs/flux_2023/images/logos/flux.svg) ![flux\_dark](https://www.fluxfederation.com/hubfs/flux_2023/images/logos/flux_dark.svg)](https://www.fluxfederation.com) Platform ##### [![20230822 Flux Nav - Billing -1](https://www.fluxfederation.com/hubfs/General%20Images/20230822%20Flux%20Nav%20-%20Billing%20-1.svg) Billing Configurable, flexible energy billing for today, and tomorrow.](https://www.fluxfederation.com/products-billing) ##### [![20230822 Flux Nav - Billing use cases-1](https://www.fluxfederation.com/hubfs/General%20Images/20230822%20Flux%20Nav%20-%20Billing%20use%20cases-1.svg) Billing use cases Solar and battery, electric vehicles, time of use, PPA, VPP and more.](https://www.fluxfederation.com/billing-use-cases) ##### [![20230822 Flux Nav - Market Operations -1](https://www.fluxfederation.com/hubfs/General%20Images/20230822%20Flux%20Nav%20-%20Market%20Operations%20-1.svg) Market Operations Complete the picture for end-to-end energy retail solution.](https://www.fluxfederation.com/market-operations) ![20230822 Flux Nav - Market Operations use cases-1](https://www.fluxfederation.com/hubfs/General%20Images/20230822%20Flux%20Nav%20-%20Market%20Operations%20use%20cases-1.svg) ##### Market Operations use cases Customer communications, single customer view and more. ##### [![20240314-Flux-Preparing-for-success-Nav-Crop](https://www.fluxfederation.com/hs-fs/hubfs/General%20Images/20240314-Flux-Preparing-for-success-Nav-Crop.jpg?width=1386&name=20240314-Flux-Preparing-for-success-Nav-Crop.jpg) Featured resource Preparing for Success: Four key billing transformation learnings. A must-read for energy companies on the precipice of change. Download now](https://www.fluxfederation.com/preparing-for-success) Insights ##### [![20210608 Flux Icon HOME AUTOMATION CONNECTION BULB\_1 WHITE](https://www.fluxfederation.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Flux%202.0/Icons/20210608%20Flux%20Icon%20HOME%20AUTOMATION%20CONNECTION%20BULB_1%20WHITE.png?width=1386&name=20210608%20Flux%20Icon%20HOME%20AUTOMATION%20CONNECTION%20BULB_1%20WHITE.png) Insights The latest updates on everything energy. From growing business value to digital transformation and industry insights. Read more](https://www.fluxfederation.com/blog) ![20210608 Flux Icon MOBILE ELECTRICITY PURCHASE\_1 WHITE](https://www.fluxfederation.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Flux%202.0/Icons/20210608%20Flux%20Icon%20MOBILE%20ELECTRICITY%20PURCHASE_1%20WHITE.png?width=1386&name=20210608%20Flux%20Icon%20MOBILE%20ELECTRICITY%20PURCHASE_1%20WHITE.png) ##### Resources A knowledge hub that shares our insight for energy businesses undertaking the changes needed to evolve the sector. Explore the hub ##### [![20240411-Nav-Featured-Resource---iPad-user-preparing-for-success](https://www.fluxfederation.com/hs-fs/hubfs/General%20Images/20240411-Nav-Featured-Resource---iPad-user-preparing-for-success.jpg?width=1386&name=20240411-Nav-Featured-Resource---iPad-user-preparing-for-success.jpg) Featured resource Preparing for Success: Four key billing transformation learnings. A must-read for energy companies on the precipice of change. Download now](https://www.fluxfederation.com/preparing-for-success) [Why Flux?](https://www.fluxfederation.com/flux-offering) Company ##### [About Find out more about the people behind our leading edge platform, our Executive team and Board of Directors. About](https://www.fluxfederation.com/about) ##### [Careers Find out what it's like to work for a remote-first company designing and building innovative retail software for leaders of the energy transition. Careers](https://www.fluxfederation.com/careers) ##### [![20240212-the-benefits-of-modern-tech-1](https://www.fluxfederation.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Flux%202.0/Blog/20240212-the-benefits-of-modern-tech-1.jpg?width=1386&name=20240212-the-benefits-of-modern-tech-1.jpg) Featured post The time is now: Why the energy sector must adopt modern billing tech Read more](https://www.fluxfederation.com/blog/the-time-is-now-why-the-energy-sector-must-adopt-modern-billing-tech) Talk to an expert Talk to an expert # We're backing the innovators. Are you with us? [Nic Kennedy - CEO](https://www.fluxfederation.com/blog/author/nic-kennedy)  |  19 August 2021 ![20210810-future-focus-1](https://www.fluxfederation.com/hubfs/20210810-future-focus-1.jpg) ![blue gradient waves](https://www.fluxfederation.com/hs-fs/hubfs/flux_2023/images/bgs/blog-bg.png?width=1386&name=blog-bg.png) As a vehicle to meet New Zealand’s 2050 net-zero emissions goals, the transition to renewable energy is now firmly in the fast lane. Gentailer giants [Contact Energy](https://contact.co.nz/) and [Meridian Energy](https://www.meridianenergy.co.nz/) are exploring the plausibility of replacing the outbound Tiwai Point aluminium smelter with the world’s first large scale green hydrogen production facility. Solar investor [Lodestone Energy](https://lodestoneenergy.co.nz/) is eyeing up sunny Northland to install our largest solar plant, lifting potential solar generation from the current 0.4% of total generation to a predicted 2% from Lodestone on its own by 2035, according to [Transpower](https://www.transpower.co.nz/).  On the regulatory front, the [Electricity Authority](https://www.ea.govt.nz/) is prudently set to introduce on 1 September a five year code amendment to pre-empt congestion issues brought on by distributed generation connections to distribution networks, anticipating the rapid growth of [distributed energy resources](https://www.fluxfederation.com/blog/making-the-most-of-distributed-energy-resources) (DER) as seen in Australia.  With development and exploration happening in all corners of the country, renewable energy in New Zealand is no longer expected to remain a one trick pony, and technology systems must prepare to enable a diverse, decarbonised energy mix. [Mercury Energy](https://www.mercury.co.nz/)’s CE, Vince Hawksworth is one energy leader strongly advocating for generation diversity in New Zealand’s energy future. “We need to explore all the alternatives in the diverse renewable portfolio that we have and that we are building.” “Thirty years ago, wind and solar energy weren’t viable and would not have been chosen by central planners looking to the future.” “Yet wind and solar have now emerged as mature technologies and are the focus of new developments.”  It’s clear that New Zealand’s generation mix is poised for rapid change. Critical to enabling this development are energy software systems that can adapt to the emerging technologies of the future. Legacy software built to solve the problems of yesterday, and indeed the problems of today, are not the right solutions to help us address the climate of tomorrow and help us reach our 2050 decarbonisation goals. Software solutions must be flexible enough to accommodate an uncertain future, including diversity of fuel type, meter composition, consumer behaviour, regulatory change and demand-response signal. As the consumer-facing participant of our industry, energy retailers must be enabled to explore the propositions of tomorrow to assist in mass decarbonisation. We must coordinate our strategies to move faster to a decarbonised, market-led future.  Energy retailers must also be prepared to approach solution development with a cost out, value in philosophy. As [Symon Dawson of Informa Connect](https://informaconnect.com/cost-out-value-in-how-risk-transformation-could-become-self-funding/) puts it, “the blueprint for the future focuses on technology and operating model transformation, alongside a focus on ways of working.” In other words, businesses should be looking to reduce cost with one hand, while increasing value with the other in a manner that provides future readiness for an uncertain future. In an energy context, this means ensuring operating systems provide ‘value in’ by redesigning and rebuilding the software eco-system for an uncertain future, while also achieving the traditional ‘cost out’ efficiency goals that an operating system would be expected to achieve through automation and standardisation. Unless an energy retailer is willing to invest in ‘value in’ equal to their investment in ‘cost out’, we will struggle as an industry to meet the diversification needs of the energy transition in New Zealand. “We must expect unimaginable technological change over the next 30 years and the market will always find a better way than any central planner of dealing with all of the information and weighing the risks and opportunities appropriately,” Hawksworth says. “We’ve got a 30-year hard deadline. We need to build in ambiguity and flex and keep going as fast as we can.” “We’ve got this if we don’t try to pick winners.” Flux has picked a winner, and that is innovation. We believe that true progress will only happen if energy participants recognise that the ways in which we make, move, sell and use energy are becoming increasingly less linear. Flux software is built to enable the yet unknown energy participants of the future to connect, interact and innovate. We believe in adding ‘value in’ as much as we seek to meet the ‘cost out’ needs of our clients, because we recognise our role to play in enabling the innovators to move us toward a decarbonised, stable and diverse energy future. We’re backing the innovators. Are you with us? ### Continue learning how we can help you ##### [![20240516-streamline-debt-manangement](https://www.fluxfederation.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Flux%202.0/Blog/20240516-streamline-debt-manangement.jpg?width=1386&name=20240516-streamline-debt-manangement.jpg) Growing business value Streamline debt management and drive profitability Read the story](https://www.fluxfederation.com/blog/streamline-debt-management-and-drive-profitability) ##### [![20240319-4-challenes-for-seller-1](https://www.fluxfederation.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Flux%202.0/Blog/20240319-4-challenes-for-seller-1.jpg?width=1386&name=20240319-4-challenes-for-seller-1.jpg) Growing business value 4 big challenges for energy sellers, according to the tech experts Read the story](https://www.fluxfederation.com/blog/4-big-challenges-for-energy-sellers-according-to-the-tech-experts) ##### [![20220211-VPP-blue-noise](https://www.fluxfederation.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Flux%202.0/Blog/20220211-VPP-blue-noise.jpg?width=1386&name=20220211-VPP-blue-noise.jpg) Growing business value Turning virtual into reality: Operationalising Virtual Power Plants Read the story](https://www.fluxfederation.com/blog/turning-virtual-into-reality-virtual-power-plants-for-energy-business) ##### [![20221208-Cost-out-value-in](https://www.fluxfederation.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Flux%202.0/Blog/20221208-Cost-out-value-in.jpg?width=1386&name=20221208-Cost-out-value-in.jpg) Digital transformation Can you have it all? Driving value in and cost out in a digital transformation Read the story](https://www.fluxfederation.com/blog/driving-value-in-and-cost-out-in-a-digital-transformation) ##### [![20240410-billing-software-for-australia](https://www.fluxfederation.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Flux%202.0/Blog/20240410-billing-software-for-australia.jpg?width=1386&name=20240410-billing-software-for-australia.jpg) Growing business value How modern billing tech can help energy sellers with the energy crisis Read the story](https://www.fluxfederation.com/blog/how-modern-billing-tech-can-help-energy-sellers-with-the-energy-crisis) ##### [![20240411-Energy-Transition-Blueprint-Refresh](https://www.fluxfederation.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Flux%202.0/Blog/20240411-Energy-Transition-Blueprint-Refresh.jpg?width=1386&name=20240411-Energy-Transition-Blueprint-Refresh.jpg) Growing business value Invest to stay in the game: Flexible tech is a blueprint for success Read the story](https://www.fluxfederation.com/blog/invest-to-stay-in-the-game-a-blueprint-for-the-energy-transition) ##### [![20231116-customer-retention](https://www.fluxfederation.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Flux%202.0/Blog/20231116-customer-retention.jpg?width=1386&name=20231116-customer-retention.jpg) Growing business value How modern billing software supports customer retention Read the story](https://www.fluxfederation.com/blog/how-modern-billing-software-supports-customer-retention) ##### [![20240212-the-benefits-of-modern-tech-1](https://www.fluxfederation.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Flux%202.0/Blog/20240212-the-benefits-of-modern-tech-1.jpg?width=1386&name=20240212-the-benefits-of-modern-tech-1.jpg) Digital transformation The time is now: Why the energy sector must adopt modern billing tech Read the story](https://www.fluxfederation.com/blog/the-time-is-now-why-the-energy-sector-must-adopt-modern-billing-tech) ##### [![20231214-End-energy-user](https://www.fluxfederation.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Flux%202.0/Blog/20231214-End-energy-user.jpg?width=1386&name=20231214-End-energy-user.jpg) Growing business value Why we mustn’t forget the customer as we power the energy transition Read the story](https://www.fluxfederation.com/blog/why-we-mustnt-forget-the-customer-as-we-power-the-energy-transition) ##### [![20231213-Nic-in-Europe---Collaboration](https://www.fluxfederation.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Flux%202.0/Blog/20231213-Nic-in-Europe---Collaboration.jpg?width=1386&name=20231213-Nic-in-Europe---Collaboration.jpg) Industry Insights Collaboration: the critical success factor of the energy transition Read the story](https://www.fluxfederation.com/blog/collaboration-the-critical-success-factor-of-the-energy-transition) ##### [![20231009-modern-billing-tech](https://www.fluxfederation.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Flux%202.0/Blog/20231009-modern-billing-tech.jpg?width=1386&name=20231009-modern-billing-tech.jpg) Digital transformation Why modern billing tech is essential in the new energy economy Read the story](https://www.fluxfederation.com/blog/why-modern-billing-tech-is-essential-in-the-new-energy-economy) ##### [![20230922-Dreamforce-insights](https://www.fluxfederation.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Flux%202.0/Blog/20230922-Dreamforce-insights.jpg?width=1386&name=20230922-Dreamforce-insights.jpg) Industry Insights Dreamforce 23: Insights into the energy revolution and our roles in it Read the story](https://www.fluxfederation.com/blog/dreamforce-23-insights-into-the-energy-revolution-and-our-roles-in-it) ##### [![20230913-Flux-Dreamforce-product-launch-1000x525](https://www.fluxfederation.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Flux%202.0/Blog/20230913-Flux-Dreamforce-product-launch-1000x525.jpg?width=1386&name=20230913-Flux-Dreamforce-product-launch-1000x525.jpg) Digital transformation Flux launches world-first product for scaling decarbonisation solutions Read the story](https://www.fluxfederation.com/blog/flux-launches-world-first-product-for-scaling-decarbonisation-solutions) ##### [![Decarbonisation, decentralisation and digitalisation of the energy sector](https://www.fluxfederation.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Flux%202.0/Blog/20230907-Flux---The-3-Ds.jpg?width=1386&name=20230907-Flux---The-3-Ds.jpg) Digital transformation Is the energy sector ready for the 3 Ds? Read the story](https://www.fluxfederation.com/blog/is-the-energy-sector-ready-for-the-3-d-s) ##### [![20230822-Customisation-over-configuration-noise](https://www.fluxfederation.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Flux%202.0/Blog/20230822-Customisation-over-configuration-noise.jpg?width=1386&name=20230822-Customisation-over-configuration-noise.jpg) Growing business value Configurability vs customisation: 4 tips for your next tech purchase Read the story](https://www.fluxfederation.com/blog/configurability-vs-customisation-4-things-to-consider-for-your-next-tech-purchase) ![purple gradient waves](https://www.fluxfederation.com/hs-fs/hubfs/flux_2023/images/bgs/form-bg.png?width=1386&name=form-bg.png) ## Be the first to know! 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