Franklin Energy Sharing Pilot
Empowering Communities Through Innovation
The way we produce and use energy is evolving, opening up exciting new possibilities. The Franklin Energy Sharing Pilot brings together Counties Energy, Ara Ake, and Climate Connect Aotearoa to explore how local renewable energy can be shared within our community in smarter, more efficient ways.
By combining solar power generation, battery storage, and peer-to-peer energy sharing technology, this pilot creates a new model where homes, businesses, and charities can connect to share clean, affordable energy. It is about making the most of the renewable energy produced right here in Franklin, supporting each other, lowering costs, and protecting the environment.
How the Pilot Works
At the Counties Energy site on Glasgow Road in Pukekohe, solar panels collect clean energy from the sun during the day. This energy is stored in a large battery on site so it can be used anytime, even when it’s cloudy or after dark.
The Franklin Energy Sharing Pilot lets local homes and businesses share their extra solar energy with community charities that need it. If you generate more solar power than you use, you can gift that surplus electricity to local groups without having to change your electricity provider or your energy plan.
Right now, the pilot supports three local charities: Mai Lighthouse (formerly Franklin Family Support Services), Whānau Resource Centre O Pukekohe Charitable Trust, and Waiuku Family Support Network. By gifting electricity to these organisations, you help reduce their energy costs, so they can spend more time and resources supporting our community.
This pilot shows how sharing energy locally makes the most of renewable power, reduces waste, and creates a stronger, more connected community. Our goal is to make it easy for more homes and businesses to join, so everyone can contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable future.
Supporting Our Local Community
At the heart of the Franklin Energy Sharing Pilot is a strong commitment to giving back to the community. By sharing clean, renewable energy, we are able to directly support local organisations that provide vital services and assistance to those who need it most.
By gifting electricity directly to these organisations, we help reduce their operating costs, enabling them to focus on what truly matters, supporting and strengthening our community.
Counties Energy Group Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, Moonis Vegdani says” The project shows how innovation can increase the uptake of distributed renewable electricity sources within households at all income levels, and contribute to building a smart, resilient and affordable energy system of the future that offers more energy choice to customers.
“Counties Energy is 100% consumer-owned – we have been serving our community for over a century – so it is immensely important to us that our innovations support the community we serve,” he says.
“The intent is to demonstrate the viability of renewable energy, paired with a community battery, to encourage individuals and companies to gift excess solar that they generate to help those in energy hardship. We’re starting with ourselves, and hope to grow the project from there.”
Counties Energy Chief Network and Digital Officer, Moonis Vegdani
This pilot uses an off-market peer-to-peer trading process. Our recipient orgnisations receive credits on their electricity bills based on the solar energy generated and battery energy discharged into the grid.
An energy sharing broker manages the process, including energy matching and multi-party billing, making it simple and seamless for all involved. This innovative model replicates the benefits of having solar generation on-site, even though the energy is generated remotely.
The result? A credit on our recipient organsiation’s electricity bills that is equivalent to having solar panels installed at the customer’s own premises.
Looking Ahead
The Franklin Energy Sharing Pilot is scalable and designed to include additional solar generators and batteries in the future. It’s a bold step toward a more equitable and sustainable energy future – powered by Counties Energy.
Interested in learning more about our energy sharing pilot?
Check out our media release below for the latest updates and details.
Want to know more about our partners and how they’re supporting the community?
Visit their websites through the links below to hear their stories and learn about their role in the project.
Learn About Our Energy Future
At Counties Energy, we’re committed to guiding our customers and communities through the transition to a low carbon energy system. By exploring innovative solutions like the Franklin Energy Sharing Pilot, we’re creating new ways to produce, share, and use clean energy that benefit everyone.