1. Sources
     Hydroelectricity    Geothermal power    Wind power    Ocean power  

2. Annual electricity generation

3. See also

4. References

The resource consent process has favoured non-renewable energy projects. This century, thermal projects have received consents (Rodney, Stratford) while several renewable energy projects have had consent applications declined (Awhitu, Mokau hydro, Mount Cass, Project Hayes, Te Waka, Waitahora).

Sources

Hydroelectricity

Geothermal power

Geothermal power is a significant part of the electrical energy generation capacity of the country, providing approximately 16% of the country's electricity with installed capacity of 971 MW.^[3] New Zealand, like only a small number of other countries worldwide, has numerous geothermal sites that could be developed for exploitation, and also boasts some of the earliest large-scale use of geothermal energy in the world.

Wind power

As of December 2014, New Zealand had an installed wind generation capacity of 683 MW.^[3] The first generation of Wind power into the national grid was in 1992 and it now provides approximately 5% of the country's electricity demand.^[3] Consents have been granted for wind farms with a further capacity of 2,200 MW.^[4]

Ocean power

From 2008 to 2011, the government Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority is allocating $2 million each year from a Marine Energy Deployment Fund, set up to encourage the utilisation of this resource.^[8]

The greater Cook Strait and Kaipara Harbour seem to offer the most promising sites for using underwater turbines. Two resource consents have been granted for pilot projects in Cook Strait itself and in the Tory Channel, and consent has been granted for up to 200 tidal turbines at the Kaipara Tidal Power Station. Other potential locations include the Manukau and Hokianga Harbours, and French Pass. The harbours produce currents up to 6 knots with tidal flows up to 100,000 cubic metres a second. These tidal volumes are 12 times greater than the flows in the largest New Zealand rivers.

Annual electricity generation

A glance at these figures shows that for the stated target to be attained, current thermal generation will have to be decommissioned and not replaced. Even if the annual total consumption doubles from the 2005 figure ( as it did from 1975 to 2005 ), with all additional generation met by non-thermal means, a static thermal generation of 14,305 on a total of 83,340 is still 17 percent. The most likely candidate for decommissioning would be the 1000 MW Huntly power station, a coal and gas power station that was commissioned in 1983.

While there are some non-technical barriers to the widespread use of renewables, global warming concerns coupled with high oil prices and increasing government support are driving increasing growth in the renewable energy industries.^[9]

To boost the renewables ratio, geothermal power is counted as renewable, although the geothermal heat reservoirs are eventually depleted (observably so at Wairakei, the longest-running{{Fact|date=May 2012}}) and they are not emissions-free. For example, the Ngawha geothermal field emits an unusually high amount of CO₂ (350 tonnes CO₂ per GWh ^[10]), and the geothermal fields plus natural hot springs draining to the Waikato river deliver sufficient arsenic to render the water unsafe to drink without special treatment{{Fact|date=October 2008}}. Re-injection of the waste geothermal fluid can reduce these problems (even extending the life of the field), but involves additional expense.

See also

• Electricity sector in New Zealand
• Energy in New Zealand
• Solar power in New Zealand
• Biofuel in New Zealand
• Renewable energy in New Zealand

References

• Francesco Tito
• Francesco Todaro
• Francesco Tortoli
• Francesco Tortolj
• Francesco Trabaldese
• Francesco Trapani
• Francesco Tricarico
• Frances, Countess Lloyd-George
• Francesco Urso
• Frances Courtenay Baylor
• Francesco Valaperta
• Francesco Valentino
• Francesco Vanneschi
• Francesco Vassallo
• Francesco Vassallo (footballer)
• Francesco Vellani
• Francesco Venturini
• Francesco Vezzoli
• Francesco Vida
• Francesco Vignas
• Francesco Vimercati
• Francesco Vinea
• Francesco Viola
• Francesco Vitalini
• Francesco Vito