EV Charging Programme Roll Out

Challenge

Z Energy manages a network of service stations across Aotearoa New Zealand and is investing in low carbon work streams that meet multiple needs. This includes rolling out high-speed EV chargers across its retail sites, with the aim of making it just as easy for customers to charge on the go as it is to fuel up.

Z Energy required a lead consultant to provide expert planning and contaminated land advice to assist with delivering the EV charging programme roll out. A particular focus for Z Energy was risk identification, prioritising permitted pathways, and obtaining RMA approvals. Z Energy also required support to meet their sustainability objectives and environmental compliance once the RMA approvals were achieved.

Solution

SLR has extensive experience in the energy sector and combined with our specialist planning and contaminated land expertise, we are able to support every stage of Z Energy’s EV charging programme roll out, from concept design to stage planning, through to onsite soils management.

We provide a comprehensive suite of services to Z Energy, delivered by one team using a multidisciplinary approach.

These services include:

• Planning due diligence and feasibility assessment;
• Planning application preparation;
• Preparation of Assessment of Environmental Effects reports;
• Project management;
• Contamination assessment;
• Site and soils management plans;
• Soil disposal options; and
• Plan and policy reviews.

In addition to supporting the EV charging roll out, we also review plan changes, plan reviews and policy changes across the country, seeking out opportunities to improve the policy space for EV charging activities, and ensure that installations and operations are provided for as permitted activities in plans and policy documents. Through this expertise, we assisted Z Energy with the following services:

• National policy monitoring;
• Submissions and evidence on proposed plans and plan changes;
• Environmental services for a range of projects; and
• Consenting of projects at fuel terminals and retail sites.

Impact

Our team has supported a “path-of-least-resistance” approach for the EV charging programme roll out. We have worked closely with various district and regional authorities across the country to obtain agreements in principle so that many of the activities and installations do not require formal sanction from consent authorities. This approach has proven beneficial for Z Energy in that it has resulted in reduced costs and improved efficiencies associated with fewer RMA consent applications being required.

Our advice on the appropriate management of soils lead to more sustainable management including reducing travel times for disposal and optimizing reuse where possible.

Z Energy’s EV programme roll out aims to provide a network that supports New Zealanders in confidently and easily switching to electric vehicles and contributing to reducing New Zealand’s carbon emissions.