Press Release – Ara Institute Ara Institute of Canterbury and its new commercial Research Hub have been chosen to act as one of seven partners providing services and support to start-ups participating in the prestigious nation-wide Orion Energy Accelerator programme. … Ara Institute of Canterbury and its new commercial ‘Research Hub’ have been chosen to act as one of seven partners providing services and support to start-ups participating in the prestigious nation-wide ‘Orion Energy Accelerator’ programme. As the owner and operator of the electricity distribution network that covers central Canterbury – one of the largest networks in New Zealand – Orion New Zealand is highly motivated towards improving how power is generated, transmitted, stored and used.