The Centre for Sustainability Research (CSR) and Otago Energy Research Centre (OERC) are pleased to present a research seminar by PhD student Maoxing Liu.
Abstract: New Zealand is among the global leaders in renewable electricity generation, with renewables supplying 94.5% of electricity in the first quarter of 2026. As electricity demand continues to grow through the electrification of transport and industry, achieving a reliable and highly renewable electricity system will require substantial investment in new generation, storage, and electricity network infrastructure. While future electricity pathways are often evaluated based on operational emissions, the environmental impacts associated with building and maintaining these systems remain largely overlooked. This research develops an integrated framework that combines life cycle assessment with electricity system modelling to evaluate six future electricity pathways for New Zealand, including a 100% renewable scenario. By considering both electricity generation and the infrastructure required to support future electricity systems, the framework provides a more complete understanding of the environmental implications of New Zealand's electricity transition.
This seminar will present:
How the environmental performance of New Zealand's electricity system evolves under different transition pathways through to 2050, identifying sources of emissions that are often hidden in conventional assessments.
Can New Zealand's current electricity transition pathways deliver the emissions reductions needed to meet the country's climate objectives?
The key strategies for decarbonising New Zealand's future electricity system while avoiding long-term carbon lock-in.
About the Speaker:
Maoxing Liu is a PhD candidate in the Department of Physics and the Centre for Sustainability Research at the University of Otago, working with Professor Michael Jack and Dr Jen Purdie. His academic journey spans China, Malaysia, and Japan, where he completed a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering and a Master of Science in Renewable Energy. His doctoral research examines New Zealand's future electricity system by integrating life cycle assessment with electricity system modelling to evaluate the environmental, technical, and economic performance of alternative transition pathways. His research interests include renewable energy systems, electrification, energy transition, and sustainable electricity planning.
Location
https://otago.zoom.us/j/95538669925?pwd=i9A9Vve5r1CqmpgjNOjJYH9QfHePEa.1