Genesis sponsors Lightning Lab Electric innovation initiative

Genesis Energy gets behind Lightning Lab Electric innovation initiative

• Genesis Energy will also be launching a local energy project giving customers a chance to be part of New Zealand's first energy community collaboration
• These initiatives will accelerate the creation and adoption of technology-led energy management services for customers

As part of its commitment to creating new services that put customers in control of their energy experience, Genesis Energy today announced its sponsorship of Lightning Lab Electric and the intent to partner with a local community to understand how these new services benefit everyday Kiwis. 

The objectives of Lightning Lab Electric - a joint project between startup incubator CreativeHQ and Callaghan Innovation – dovetail with Genesis Energy's strategic direction and focus on creating meaningful, innovative products and services for its energy customers. Lightning Lab Electric will, through two phases – an Innovation Challenge and Accelerator Programme, encourage and support people who want to make a difference through their innovative ideas. 

"Getting behind Lightning Lab is a natural fit for us. We're focused on delivering great products, excellent service and flexible, low cost energy options to more New Zealanders. Using know-how and data gained from close to half a million smart meters and solar installations, we're focused on creating customer insight-driven services," Marc England, Genesis CEO.

The rapidly evolving energy ecosystem requires a different approach to what's been taken so far. As part of a new initiative called, The Local Energy Project, Genesis Energy will work with a community to build a truly engaging energy experience based on new technologies and digital capabilities.  Customers will trial newly created digital tools to better monitor and manage their energy use from new energy technologies such as solar, local battery storage and electric vehicles, enhanced with digital innovations.

"We will be setting up The Local Energy Project as an adjunct to the sponsorship of Lightning Lab Electric to encourage consumer focused new energy product innovation," says England.

Mr England said he would share more about The Local Energy Project in the coming weeks. Genesis Energy plans to work with a number of partners including established companies and emerging startups, as well as putting capital behind these initiatives over the coming years.