Wind power in New Zealand
Wind power in New Zealand generates a small but rapidly growing proportion of the country's electricity, as the country makes increasing use of its outstanding wind resources. Currently wind supplies around 4% of New Zealand's electricity needs, with predictions that this will reach 20% in the next 20 years.
Contents |
[edit] Generation capacity and expansion
As of June 2011, New Zealand had an installed wind generation capacity of 615 MW. Wind power now provides enough electricity to meet the needs of 180,000 New Zealand households, or approximately 4% of the country's electricity demand.[1] Wind farms with a further capacity of 80 MW are under construction,[2] with approval granted or being sought for another 2,875 MW.[3]
[edit] Wind resources
New Zealand has outstanding wind resources, due to its position astride the Roaring Forties, resulting in nearly continuous strong westerly winds over many locations, unimpeded by other nearby landmasses at similar latitude.[4] One study found that using 1% of total available land for wind farms would produce approximately 100,000 gigawatt hours (GWh) per year.[5] This is roughly two times the annual electricity consumption of New Zealand. Nearly continuous however does not mean continuous: a high-pressure weather system can cover the entire country, meaning no significant winds anywhere.
[edit] Acceptance
Wind farms and turbines generate a wide range of opinions from outright opposition to widespread acceptance. Opposition is due to noise, aesthetics and ecological factors. A Palmerston North landscape designer launched a petition in 2008 calling for a moratorium on wind farm developments until stricter national policies are in place, including minimum distances from housing, maximum saturation levels, and protection for iconic areas.[6]
[edit] Wind farms
[edit] Operating
Only wind turbines and farms over 0.5 MW generating capacity are listed.
| Name | Commissioned | Operator | Number of turbines | Installed capacity (MW) |
Annual average generation (GWh) [7] |
Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hau Nui | 1997 | Genesis Energy | 15 | 8.65 | 22 | 41°21′42″S 175°29′2″E / 41.36167°S 175.48389°E |
| Horseshoe Bend[8] | 2009 | Pioneer Generation | 3 | 2.25 | ||
| Lulworth | January 2011 | Energy³ | 4 | 1 | ||
| Mahinerangi | March 2011 | TrustPower | 12 | 36 | 105 | 45°45′38″S 169°54′18″E / 45.76056°S 169.905°E |
| Tararua | 1999 | TrustPower | 134 | 161 | 650 | 40°20′46″S 175°46′48″E / 40.34611°S 175.78°E |
| Te Apiti | 2004 | Meridian Energy | 55 | 91 | 258 | 40°17′46″S 175°48′30″E / 40.29611°S 175.80833°E |
| Te Rere Hau | 2006-11 | NZ Windfarms | 97 | 48.5 | 40°23′18″S 175°43′27″E / 40.38833°S 175.72417°E | |
| Te Uku | 2011 | WEL Networks / Meridian Energy | 28 | 64.4 | 37°52′42″S 174°57′47″E / 37.87833°S 174.96306°E | |
| Weld Cone[9][10] | 2010 | Energy3 | 3 | 0.75 | ||
| Project West Wind | 2009 | Meridian Energy | 62 | 142.6 | 550 | 41°16′35″S 174°39′37″E / 41.27639°S 174.66028°E |
| White Hill | 2007 | Meridian Energy | 29 | 58 | 200 | 45°45′9″S 168°16′18″E / 45.7525°S 168.27167°E |
Meridian Energy also operates a 1 MW wind farm on Ross Island, Antarctica. It is not included in the above list as it doesn't contribute electricity to the New Zealand national electricity network.[11][12]
[edit] Under construction
| Name | Operator | Number of turbines | Capacity (MW) | Planned commissioning date | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mt Stuart[13] | NZ Windfarms | 9 | 7.65 | December 2011 | 46°4′20″S 169°46′2″E / 46.07222°S 169.76722°E |
[edit] Proposed
[edit] Abandoned
| Name | Operator | Projected Capacity (MW) | Comments | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Project Hayes | Meridian Energy | 630 | Abandoned in January 2012 | 45°30′39″S 169°53′3″E / 45.51083°S 169.88417°E |
| Maungatua Wind Farm[28][29] | Windpower Maungatua | 25 | project abandoned[30] | |
| Motorimu Wind Farm[31] | Motorimu Wind Farm Limited | 108 | scrapped, consents surrendered[32] | |
| Te Waka | Unison Networks and Roaring 40s | 102 | 39°12′20″S 176°41′13″E / 39.20556°S 176.68694°E |
[edit] Individual wind turbines
Individual demonstration and prototype wind turbines have been installed at Southbridge in Canterbury,[33] Gebbies Pass near Christchurch and at Brooklyn in Wellington.
Many small windmills serve as windpumps on New Zealand farms.
[edit] Coping with intermittency
Wind farms partner nicely with hydro plants on the same grid to create combined power plants, because hydro plants can be uprated with extra turbine units to provide highly dispatchable peak generating capacity above the average flows of their rivers, at lower cost than other peak power options.[34] During periods of high wind and low electricity demand, a hydro plant can reduce its output to accumulate water in its reservoir, whilst wind power handles a higher share of the grid load. Then during periods of low wind, the hydro plant can raise its output temporarily, drawing down its reservoir a bit. Given New Zealand's large proportion of hydroelectric generating capacity, it is better-positioned than most nations to uprate its generating stations and grid to handle intermittent power sources such as wind and solar. The available virtual energy storage represented by hydro plants can be one of the main factors limiting the maximum amount of wind and solar power that a grid can accommodate. Further increases in intermittent power source development may require construction of pumped-storage hydroelectricity and implementation of energy demand management techniques.
Other nations also plan to generate more of their electricity from renewable sources, and are researching solutions for the intermittency problem. The Institute for Solar Energy Supply Technology of the University of Kassel pilot-tested a combined power plant linking solar, wind, biogas and hydrostorage to provide load-following power around the clock, entirely from renewable sources.[35] According to a 2007 Stanford University study published in the Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, interconnecting ten or more wind farms allows 33 to 47% of the total energy produced to be used as reliable, baseload electric power, as long as minimum criteria are met for wind speed and turbine height.[36][37]
[edit] See also
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Wind power in New Zealand |
- Wind power generation in New Zealand (2007)
- Electricity sector in New Zealand
- List of power stations in New Zealand
- Renewable energy in New Zealand
[edit] References
- ^ "Wind generation in New Zealand". New Zealand Wind Energy Association. http://windenergy.org.nz/nz-wind-farms/generation-statistics. Retrieved 2010-02-12.
- ^ "Wind energy basics" (PDF). New Zealand Wind Energy Association. http://windenergy.org.nz/documents/Windenergybasics.pdf. Retrieved 2010-02-12.
- ^ "Proposed wind farms". New Zealand Wind Energy Association. http://windenergy.org.nz/nz-wind-farms/proposed-wind-farms. Retrieved 2010-02-16.
- ^ "New Zealand wind resource". New Zealand Wind Energy Association. Archived from the original on 2008-01-10. http://web.archive.org/web/20080110080902/http://www.windenergy.org.nz/FAQ/resource.htm. Retrieved 2008-03-08.
- ^ "New Zealand's Wind Resource". New Zealand Wind Energy Association. http://www.windenergy.org.nz/FAQ/wind_resrc.htm. Retrieved 2008-03-08.[dead link]
- ^ Matthews, Lee (2 February 2009). "Petition calls for turbine advice". Manawatu Standard. http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/eveningstandard/4834272a6502.html. Retrieved 16 February 2009.
- ^ "List of Generating Stations November 2010 - New Zealand Electricity Authority". http://www.ea.govt.nz/document/11750/download/industry/modelling/long-term-generation-development/list-of-generation-projects/. Retrieved 2011-01-25.
- ^ "Horseshoe Bend wind farm". New Zealand Wind Energy Association. http://windenergy.org.nz/nz-wind-farms/operating-wind-farms/horseshoe-bend. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
- ^ [1], NZ Wind Energy Association.
- ^ "Farmersplan to put wind to good use". Marlborough Express. 15January 2009. http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlboroughexpress/4819546a6008.html.
- ^ "Ross Island wind farm". New Zealand Wind Energy Association. http://windenergy.org.nz/nz-wind-farms/operating-wind-farms/ross-island. Retrieved 2009-02-15.
- ^ "McCully opens Antarctic wind farm". New Zealand Herald. 16 January 2010. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10620606. Retrieved 2010-01-16.
- ^ "Proposed Mt Stuart Windfarm Information". Clutha District Council. http://www.cluthadc.govt.nz/Web%20Pages/Regulatory%20Services/Mt%20Stuart%20Windfarm/Mt%20Stuart%20Windfarm.htm. Retrieved 2009-02-06.
- ^ "Submission on the Awakino Wind Farm Development". Ministry of Economic Development. April 2005. http://www.med.govt.nz/templates/MultipageDocumentTOC____11813.aspx.
- ^ Chug, Kiran (2 April 2011). "Planned wind farm would be biggest". Stuff (Fairfax). http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/4840075/Planned-wind-farm-would-be-biggest. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
- ^ "Wind farm for Chathams". The Press. 17 December 2008. http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4795261a7693.html.
- ^ [2] New Zealand Wind Energy Association
- ^ "Project Central Wind". Meridian Energy Ltd. http://www.meridianenergy.co.nz/OurProjects/Project+Central+Wind/. Retrieved 2009-02-14.
- ^ "Windfarm investigation blows on". Northern News. 9 October 2007. http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/northland/26165. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
- ^ "Meridian Energy Project Hurunui Wind CRC111342 CRC111343 CRC111354 CRC111344". Public Notices. Environment Canterbury. 11 April 2011. http://ecan.govt.nz/news-and-notices/notices/pages/MeridianEnergy-.aspx. Retrieved 11 April 2011.
- ^ Mike Barrington (2008-12-30). "Giant wind farm plan". Northern Advocate. http://www.northernadvocate.co.nz/localnews/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3793067&thesection=localnews&thesubsection=&thesecondsubsection=. Retrieved 2008-12-31.
- ^ "Facts & figures". Slopedown Wind Farm. http://slopedownwindfarm.co.nz/facts_figures. Retrieved 2009-02-05.
- ^ NZPA (2 February 2006). "Three wind farms planned for Waikato". New Zealand Herald. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10366533. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
- ^ "Taumatatotora-NZ Wind Farm". Ventus Energy. http://www.ventusenergy.net/tauma.html. Retrieved 2009-02-05.
- ^ Rankin, Janine (8 October 2011). "Wind farm on hold". Manawatu Standard. http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/5753104/Wind-farm-on-hold-till-electricity-demand-flurries. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
- ^ $300 million wind farm for Waverley, Wanganui Chronicle, 28 April 2007.
- ^ "Wind farm hearing put off indefinitely by applicant". Waverley Way. http://www.waverleyway.co.nz/waverleywindfarm.htm. Retrieved 2009-02-06.
- ^ "Mt Maungatua wind-farm proposal grows 25%". Otago Daily Times. 15 July 2008. http://www.odt.co.nz/news/business/13223/mt-maungatua-wind-farm-proposal-grows-25.
- ^ 6 month report to 31 December 2008, NZ Windfarms Limited, 2 March 2009. Quote: "the WindPower Maungatua wind farm ... is now unlikely to proceed in the near future, if at all".
- ^ "Wind farm development abandoned". Otago Daily Times. 29 August 2009. http://www.odt.co.nz/the-regions/otago/71681/wind-farm-development-abandoned.
- ^ "Notice of Decision". Joint Hearings Commissioners. http://www.turiteareserve.org.nz/files/motorimu-decision-final.pdf. Retrieved 2009-02-14.
- ^ Miller, Grant (25 August 2009). "Wind farm idea off table as liquidators surrender consent". The Manawatu Standard. http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/2784485/Wind-farm-idea-off-table-as-liquidators-surrender-consent.
- ^ http://www.windenergy.org.nz/photos/windfarms/southbridge.htm New Zealand Wind Energy Association - Southbridge Wind Turbine
- ^ "Hydroelectric Power". United States Bureau of Reclamation. http://www.usbr.gov/power/edu/pamphlet.pdf. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
- ^ "The Combined Power Plant: the first stage in providing 100% power from renewable energy". SolarServer. January 2008. http://www.solarserver.de/solarmagazin/anlagejanuar2008_e.html. Retrieved 2008-10-10.
- ^ "The power of multiples: Connecting wind farms can make a more reliable and cheaper power source". 2007-11-21. http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-11/ams-tpo112107.php.
- ^ Archer, C. L.; Jacobson, M. Z. (2007). "Supplying Baseload Power and Reducing Transmission Requirements by Interconnecting Wind Farms". Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology (American Meteorological Society) 46 (11): 1701–1717. Bibcode 2007JApMC..46.1701A. doi:10.1175/2007JAMC1538.1. http://www.stanford.edu/group/efmh/winds/aj07_jamc.pdf.
[edit] Further reading
- Energy Link and MWH NZ (May 2005). Wind Energy Integration in New Zealand. New Zealand. http://www.eeca.govt.nz/eeca-library/renewable-energy/wind/report/wind-integration-in-nz-report-05.pdf. Retrieved 2008-09-14.
[edit] External links
- New Zealand Wind Energy Association
- "Carbon neutral wind energy can close off nuclear option". New Zealand Wind Energy Association. 2007-09-13. http://www.windenergy.org.nz/documents/2007/070913-NZWEA-Tararua-3-carbon-neutral-in-months.pdf. Retrieved 2008-09-13.[dead link]
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
