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Nine Kiwi startups could offset emissions at the scale of NZ forests
22 April, 2026
Today’s launch of the New Zealand Cleantech Impact Report 2026 shows New Zealand has a pipeline of Cleantech companies with the potential to reduce emissions on a global scale. The report notes that just nine of these companies could cut global Greenhouse Gas emissions by 19.2 million tonnes a year by 2030, roughly the same as the carbon absorbed by New Zealand’s forests.
MacDiarmid Institute Director Professor Nicola Gaston said what stands out is that many of these companies are based on talent and IP coming straight out of research labs.
‘We’re seeing our scientists and engineers step into founder roles and turn New Zealand’s world-class research into real-world climate solutions.’
What stands out is that many of these companies are coming straight out of research labs.
Professor Nicola Gaston MacDiarmid Institute Director
The report authors go on to say there’s an opportunity to leverage New Zealand’s strengths and grow the commercial and environmental benefits of our public research here and that Cleantech innovators are scaling quickly, with the need for capital outstripping supply.
Nicola said that the 2024 Cleantech Report had identified New Zealand’s Cleantech sector as full of promise with real global potential.
'This 2026 Cleantech Report shows it’s now actually happening,' she said. 'Companies are scaling quickly and delivering real impact across energy and sustainability, but they are starting to run up against a lack of capital to keep that momentum going.'
She said this reinforced the importance of a strong ecosystem to support those leading this work in New Zealand.
‘It has taken a long time to build this capability, and the expertise now moving from research labs into commercial Cleantech is something we cannot take for granted/we need to protect and cherish,’ Nicola said.
'This Report really shows the role of researchers in building this Cleantech ecosystem,' she added.
Institute Deputy Director for Commercialisation, Associate Professor Natalie Plank said New Zealand is doing well for a small country in terms of quality of tech, but needs more capital/investment to scale up.
'The potential here is huge, both for emissions reduction and economic growth,’ she says. ‘But to realise it, the Cleantech report is saying these companies need faster access to capital and stronger support to scale.’
Sophie Braggins, Ara Ake chief executive, says energy innovation remains a major opportunity for New Zealand. This follows Ara Ake’s recent backing of Cetogenix, a New Zealand Cleantech start-up transforming organic biomass into energy, nutrients, and biobased products.
‘We’re committed to supporting start-ups such as Cetogenix and OpenStar Technologies, and we hope this sends a strong signal to the sector,’ she said.
The potential here is huge, both for emissions reduction and economic growth,
Associate Professor Natalie Plank Deputy Director for Commercialisation and Industry Engagement
The Cleantech Impact Report 2026 has four key recommendations to enhance the impact and commercial success of New Zealand Cleantech researcher innovators:
- Grow Innovation into Impact – International investors in Cleantech are invited to partner with local innovators to help them scale at pace;
- Improve Impact Measurement and Communication – Cleantech innovators are urged to calculate their future impact and share these insights with investors and policymakers;
- Enhance Government Support and International Investment – Government should support Cleantech innovators to scale up for global reach in sourcing capital and market access in the green economy; and
- Integrate Cleantech into Policy – New Zealand policymakers should use this new powerful tool to plan our economic transition to a low carbon economy.
Nicola also said the report reinforces what the government is already hearing from across the research and innovation sector.
‘The government will have seen several recent reports from NZGCP, TIN, NZTech and SBC all pointing to similar conclusions. What sets this report apart is the focus on early-stage Cleantech innovators, many of them operating in the hard to abate areas and offering solutions to energy and supply chain resilience, and critical materials access.’
The report quantifies for the first time the decarbonisation opportunity for local climate innovation.
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