2026 Energy Series | Unlocking the Bay's Biomass Potential

Unlocking the Bay's biomass potential

4-6pm, Wednesday 5 August, The Tauranga Club

The Bay of Plenty region is home to the largest plantation forestry resource in New Zealand with access to significant biomass. It's also home to some innovative companies using biomass to create energy. In this session, we will explore the technologies and applications of biomass across the energy sector, from transport to industrial process heat. Hear from the companies leading the development and manufacture of these emerging technologies, including:

• An introduction to biomass for energy use.

  • The sources & process used to convert it into energy.

• The national & regional biomass reserve.

• The use of biomass for industrial process heat.

  • Including examples of adoption in New Zealand.

Topics & speakers (bios below):

The Importance of Biomass in New Zealand – Aden Jones (EECA)

The Biomass Reserve & Science – Peter Hall (BSI)

Biomass in Industry (larger scale) – Cameron Marett (Windsor Engineering & CIL)

Biomass in industry (smaller scale) – Marcus Baker (Apricus Eco)

One Residue. Six Opportunities: Heat, Cooling, Power, CO₂, Fuels and Carbon – Christian Jirkowsky (POLYTECHNIK Biomass Energy)

Renewable Energy Fuel – John Goodwin  (Nature's Flame) 

Renewable Energy & Sustainable Chemistry – Dean Ormrod (Foresta) 

Plus Jacob Steens, Senior Consent Planner from Bay of Plenty Regional Council, will be on hand to answer questions.

The evening will end with a networking session where you can talk to the attending speakers, as well as meet other industry colleagues, along with drinks and canapes.

What's the 2026 Energy Series?

A practical learning series bringing together businesses to learn from energy specialists, explore cost‑efficient solutions, and take action to optimise costs, strengthen resilience and plan confidently for the future.

The series aligns with the work of the Energy Leadership Group (ELG) and the development of the Western Bay of Plenty’s regional energy strategy. The series will include workshops on topics such as biomass, transport & logistics, and more. Alongside specialist insights, we’ll seek your input to help shape the topics discussed so they reflect your business priorities and real‑world needs.

This session is also about connection. You'll have the opportunity to engage with peers, industry experts and innovators, helping to accelerate your energy strategy.

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This series is bought to you by Priority One, EMA, EECA, Beca and the Energy Leadership Group (ELG).

Learn more about Priority One's energy work.

Speaker bios:

Marcus Baker is managing director at Apricus Eco. Since 2004, he has been delivering advice and practical solutions for energy efficiency, renewable energy and sustainable practices in NZ and UK. Apricus Eco are decarbonising NZ state sector, commercial buildings and homes using natural refrigerant hot water heat pumps, biomass boilers and solar thermal systems.
The company designs and installs energy efficient, decarbonised systems for schools, hospitals, prisons, local government, universities, horticulture, companies and households. It sources the latest technology from around the world and combines it with Kiwi ingenuity for practical system design and implementation. Marcus is committed to designing and implementing practical solutions to deliver heating that is affordable and sustainable. He's particularly interested in the opportunities presented by a circular approach to meeting our energy and heating needs.

Cameron Marett (Windsor Engineering & CIL) has been Sales Engineer for Windsor Energy for the past seven years, with previous roles as project and sales engineer at Worley, Spirax Sarco and GEA.

Aden Jones is a Regional Manager at EECA with a background in the industrial gases industry and extensive experience across the food and manufacturing sectors. Over the past seven years at EECA, he's worked alongside many New Zealand businesses across the full renewable process heat journey – from early concept and feasibility through to investment and delivery.

Dean Ormrod is the Head of Business Development at Foresta Group Holdings, with over 30 years of business management experience across fuel, oil and gas, manufacturing, construction and marine. He leads offtake partnerships, investment development, international trade, government relations, and industry engagement.