| 23-Dec-'04 |
TrustPower lodges resource consent for 120 MW wind farm. The consent application was formally submitted today with both the Palmerston North City Council and the Tararua District Council. The application is for the construction and operation of 40 Vestas 3 MW turbines in the vicinity of the existing TrustPower Tararua wind farm. If approval is given construction will start in June of next year and it is intended that the expanded wind farm will be fully operational by November 2006.
TrustPower's Stage III fact sheet. ( 330kB). |
| 21-Dec-'04 |
Resource consent granted for Meridian Energy's 70 MW wind farm in Southland. The consent was granted today for this project which could generate enough electricity to meet the needs of all 30,000 houses in the Southland District and Invercargill City area. This project has strong community backing and Meridian anticipates that construction will begin in the first half of 2005. Details |
| 09-Dec-'04 |
The Prime Minister, Helen Clark, opened Meridian's wind farm in the Manawatu. The installed capacity of 90 MW, spread across 55 wind turbines at the site, generates enough clean, sustainable electricity to meet the needs of about 45,000 average Kiwi households. The time between breaking the first ground at the site through to connection of the last wind turbine at the end of October, was less than one year. Details |
| 08-Dec-'04 |
Some details of results of Round Two of 'Projects to Reduce Emissions'. The Ministry for the Environment announced that 24 projects including "wind farms, hydro electricity generation, geothermal electricity generation, bio energy and land-fill gas projects" have been awarded a share of the 6 million carbon credits that are available under 'Round Two' of the projects to reduce emissions. The awards involve 450MW of new generation; more than 99% of which is from renewable sources including wind, hydro and geothermal. Unfortunately MfE is not able to release any detail about the projects that have been successful.
MfE press release. Details
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| 02-Dec-'04 |
Submissions sought on Resource Management and Electricity Legislation Bill. Following a road-show through the latter half of this year at which industry and public opinon was sought regarding proposed amendments to the Resource Management Act, MfE has collated its findings in the form of the above Bill which had its first reading in Parliament on the 16 December. Submissions are invited and must be made by 16 February 2005. Details |
| 01-Dec-'04 |
LNG: From saviour to pariah . An article with this title from the web site of the UK's Financial Times explores the introduction of LNG in North America. It finds that it has not all been as smooth as LNG proponents would have us believe. Community opposition has been very high (only 20 per cent of projects go ahead) and LNG prices have risen sharply as a result of strong global demand. Details |
| 17-Nov-'04 |
Sound Standard for wind turbines is "adequate" . Of late some concerned community groups have stated that NZS 6808 is 'out of date'. As a result a scoping meeting, Chaired by Standards New Zealand, was held in order to make a recommendation as to the extent, if any, of changes required. This group found that the Standard is currently "adequate" and recommended that it be re-visited in about two years. Details |
| 04-Nov-'04 |
Wind energy & electricity prices. Meridian's CEO, Keith Turner, speaking in today's NZ Herald, notes that NZ could generate 2,500-3,000 GWh (equivalent to 625 - 750MW of installed capacity) of electricity from the wind at prices of 6c/kWh or lower. This is about 40 per cent less than the cost of LNG. He notes that this will have a beneficial effect in keeping electricity prices down and that, when added to the 3,000GWh from Genesis' 385 MW Huntly project, there is actually not a "looming power crisis" as many would have us believe. |
| 05-Oct-'04 |
Misconceptions. A recent article in the Christchurch Press, reprinted from the UK's 'The Times' newspaper, sang the praises of nuclear power and at the same time denigrated the wind industry. NZWEA therefore wrote a response to the Press which addressed some of the most common misconceptions about the wind energy industry (Economics, Subsidies, Intermittency and Public Opinion). This article appeared in today's edition of the Press. ( 102kB) |
| 17-Sep-'04 |
Carbon markets. The lack of liquidity in global carbon markets makes it difficult to monetise 'Emissions Units' awarded under the Government's 'Projects to Reduce Emissions' program. Nonetheless an international carbon market is starting to emerge and the increased liquidity this brings can only be a good thing. NZWEA looks at a number of recent articles on the subject. Details |
| 17-Sep-'04 |
New wind farm in Southland. Meridian Energy announces that it intends to seek resource consents for a wind farm of up to 70 MW near Mossburn in northern Southland. At its proposed size the development could power all 30,000 houses in the Southland District and the Invercargill City area. Details |
| 02-Sep-'04 |
Industry view on generation issues. The Business Council for Sustainable Development, in conjunction with a number of energy companies, today released the Stage 1 report of its project which pools the views of nine of New Zealand's largest energy companies in order to consider some of the key issues and options, for the domestic energy sector. This indicates that wind could represent more than 1,500 MW of our generation portfolio. Details |
| 30-Aug-'04 |
Ministerial speech. Gas exploration incentives announced. Hon Peter Hodgson delivers the keynote address to the Gas Industry Reform Conference in which he talks about the importance of sustainable economic growth and the contribution of natural gas to that. He mentions the need for a balanced mix of generation assets and notes that we are moving towards a global economy that will be carbon constrained. The speech also contains details of gas exploration incentives package that the Government has developed in order to encourage further oil and gas exploration.
Government's press release ( 107kB) |
| 30-Aug-'04 |
Round Two - Projects to Reduce Emissions. The tender opens today for bids for six million emissions units that are being offered by the Government for projects that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions during the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol (2008-2012). These units are offered under the Government's 'Projects to Reduce Emissions' mechanism; a bold initiative which is intended to position New Zealand as a significant player in the rapidly emerging international 'carbon' market.
The Government's press release ( 130kB)
Summary of Dutch 'ERUPT 5' tender round for monetising emissions units ( 133kB)
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| 12-Aug-'04 |
Taxpayer subsidies for natural gas. Genesis energy's announcement that it will build a 385MW CCGT plant at Huntly (e3p) was welcomed today by the Government. NZWEA is concerned at the level and type of Government support underlying this project. Not only has the Government granted gas exploration incentives this year; it has also agreed, for this project, to share an unspecified amount of risk with Genesis around the long term supply of gas. The details are "commercially sensitive" and not currently available.
The Government's press announcement of the deal. ( 91kB) |
| 06-Aug-'04 |
Round Two Briefings. Following on from the Government's announcement on the 15 July of the timetable for the second round of the 'Projects to reduce Emissions' (see below for details), the Ministry for the Environment today announced a series of briefings in Christchurch, Auckland and Wellington, to which anyone interested in taking part in the bidding process is invited to attend. Details |
| 05-Aug-'04 |
TeApiti -First Power. The first turbines of the TeApiti wind farm, near Palmerston North, were turned on today and electricity flowed into the National Grid. Once completed the windfarm will generate sufficient amounts of clean, sustainable power to meet the needs of more than 40,000 NZ households. It will also be the largest wind farm in the Southern Hemisphere. Details |
| 04-Aug-'04 |
National's Energy Policy. A press release today, from the offices of the Minister for Energy, contained National's Energy Policy which was tabled today in Parliament in response to a question yesterday. It is interesting that this Policy opposes the Carbon tax which is to be introduced in 2008 and says that National will repeal any legislation which is passed to enforce it. This sort of thing highlights, quite starkly, the sort of political risk which is faced by every investor in new generation plant. It provides further evidence showing why it is that investing in generation assets is much more risky than some would have us believe.
National's Policy on Climate Change. ( 169kB)
Government's response to Nats Climate Change policy. (66kB) |
| 04-Aug-'04 |
Ministerial view on development of energy policy. The Minister gave the Hopkins Lecture on Energy Planning for New Zealand. In it he takes an interesting, albeit brief, look back on the last 30 years or so of the country's energy policy and planning regime. He then looks forward to the work that this Government is doing to ensure a more sustainable and stable mix of energy generation going forward.
Text of the speech ( 118kB)
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| 25-Jul-'04 |
Contact advertising campaign. There has been much speculation of late about what Contact Energy is up to with its current very extensive media advertising campaign. Patrick Smellie, Corporate Communications manager at Contact, was quizzed on national radio on Sunday (Media Watch) over the aims and intent of the current program. Listen in to this 7 minute sound recording ( 3 .5 MB) |
| 15-Jul-'04 |
Timetable announced for Round 2 of Projects to Reduce Emissions Programme. The timetable for the second round of the Government's projects to reduce emissions programme; under which six million emissions credits are available, was announced today by the Minister for Energy, the Hon Pete Hodgson, at the New Zealand Wind Energy Association conference in Palmerston North. (121kB) |
| 10-Jul-'04 |
Wind Energy - The Facts. NZWEA today placed a one page, full colour advertisement in the Dominion Post. This advert contained factual answers to some of the most commonly asked questions that people have about wind turbines in New Zealand. For instance economics, intermittency, visual affects & public perception, property prices and more. Details |
| 24-Jun-'04 |
Noise - what noise? The Dominion Post published NZWEA's response to a 9 June article which contained an unsubstantiated claimed that the noise from wind farms can cause "extreme distress". Wind farm noise levels are tightly controlled by carefully designed standards and there is no peer-reviewed evidence to suggest that wind farm noise can cause "mental anguish" or anything else. Details |
| 09-Jun-'04 |
EU Emissions Trading and implications for NZ. Herald article. Brian Fallow of the NZ Herald writes on the German's finalisation of their 'National Allocation Plan', the European Emissions Trading Scheme (which starts in January 2005) and how all of this affects New Zealand because of the Government's plans to introduce a tax on the carbon content of fossil fuels, before 2008, the level of which will be based on the international price of carbon. www.nzherald.co.nz |
| 04-Jun-'04 |
Dr Geoff Leventhall comments on low frequency noise and wind turbines. Anti wind farm groups have been making much noise recently about a report that was written by Dr Leventhall and the supposed links it makes between wind farms and low frequency noise. Dr Leventhall speaks out and notes in no uncertain terms that he has not made any such links and that anti groups are doing themselves a disservice by implying otherwise. Details |
| 21-May-'04 |
Dr Suzuki questions Dr Bellamy's stance on wind energy. Suzuki, a world renowned Canadian environmentalist, in an Australian newspaper speaks out against comments made by the UK's David Bellamy. In this article Suzuki agrees with nothing of what Bellamy has to say about wind turbines and notes that some of Bellamy's comments are "unscientific, irresponsible and simply wrong". Details |
| 18-May-'04 |
Announcement of intention to award further Emissions Units. 6 million more Carbon Credits are to be awarded to projects which will help reduce NZ's carbon dioxide emissions. The announcement was made today at the opening of Tararua wind farm by the Convenor of the Ministerial Group on Climate Change and follows on from the successful first round of Carbon Credit awards which saw 4 million credits awarded to 15 projects. Details |
| 18-May-'04 |
Opening of Tararua stage 2. New Zealand's wind energy capacity doubles with the official opening of the 36.3MW Tararua extension in the Manawatu. The Energy Minister hails this as "the beginning of an era of rapid growth for wind power in New Zealand". Details |
| 11-May-'04 |
Major Generator views on generation issues - Otago Daily Times article. The Otago Daily times publishes the results of a questionnaire sent to five major NZ power generation companies. This contains a useful snapshot of these companies' views on the key issues related to domestic power generation today. Details |
| 29-Apr-'04 |
Response to Christchurch Press - Wind power reliable and inexpensive. An letter in the Christchurch Press on April 23rd criticised wind power as being both unreliable and expensive. NZWEA responded stating that wind energy in New Zealand is neither unreliable nor expensive. Details |
| 27-Apr-'04 |
Hurdles for lines companies wanting to generate power - Herald article. Vector eyes the power generation market. An interesting article in the NZ Herald which looks at the reason why lines companies are not entering the power generation market. Vector energy argues that, even if lines companies are allowed to generate power, they will not want to if they are forbidden from retailing that power. They are seeking changes through the Electricity & Gas Industries Bill now before the Commerce Select Committee. Details |
| 22-Apr-'04 |
Need for a liquid hedge/forward market. Herald article. This article by Brian Fallow of the NZ Herald ('Power users need to hedge their bets') talks about the need for a transparent and liquid hedge/forward market in order to ensure that there is a suitable amount of long term investment in power generation assets. A good summary despite the fact that it states "wind power....is only any use when the wind blows". NZWEA has written to Brian to point out that this statement is incorrect. Details |
| 12-Apr-'04 |
Net metering. Article in the Herald discussing the key points relating to 'net-metering' which is of direct relevance to smaller (i.e. domestic) renewable energy systems. Details
NZWEA is progressing the 'net-metering' issue through its 'Wind Energy Grid Forum' |
| 06-Apr-'04 |
Response to inaccurate Herald article re wind energy. NZWEA responds to Herald article with facts on wind turbines, environmental impacts, noise, costs and public perception ( 61kB). Alternatively, view the article on-line. Details |
| Apr-'04 |
ENA view on Electricity & Gas Industries Bill. The Electricity Network Association's newsletter is critical of the current form and focus of the Electricity and Gas Industries Bill which is now before the Commerce Select Committee. ENA claims that focus should be taken off empowering the Commission and should instead be focused on getting more investment in generation and should also remove restrictions that are currently preventing lines companies from investing in generation assets. Details |
| 28-Feb-'04 |
First Auckland wind farm wins carbon credits. Details |
| 20-Feb-'04 |
First Wellington wind farm wins carbon credits. Details |
| 09-Feb-'04 |
Significant role for wind energy - past president of IPENZ speaks out. Article in the Herald written by the past President of The Institution of Professional Engineers of New Zealand and Director at the Center for Advanced Engineering at the University of Canterbury. It talks about the potential solutions to New Zealand's power needs and outlines the significant role that wind can play. It notes that "we can use the storage capacity of our hydro lakes to balance fluctuating wind power generation ". Details |
| 01-Dec-'04 |
LNG: From Saviour to Pariah. This is the title of an article which appeared today on the Financial Times web site and which looks at the experience of installing LNG terminals in North America. It finds not only that community resistance to LNG is very high but also that LNG prices are rising rapidly reflecting increasing demand for LNG as well as rapidly increasing crude oil prices. It therefore suggests that LNG is possibly not the panacea that some would have us believe. Details |
| 01-Jun-'04 |
Germany. Munich Re, the world's largest re-insurance company with a market capitalisation of US$22bln, gives its views on climate change & renewable energy. It notes that a significant component of a long term trend of ever increased loss payments is due to climate change resulting from steadily increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. Details |
| 11-May-'04 |
United States. The US Senate passed a Corporate tax bill on a vote of 92-5 that contains a three year extension of the wind energy production tax credit (PTC) (through 31 December 2006) and a new small turbine investment tax credit. However there is still much work to be done before the new PTC is enacted. Details |
| 05-May-'04 |
Europe. The European Wind Energy Association and the European Commission's Directorate General for Transport and Energy respond, with a detailed study, to demands from the general public in Europe for more facts on wind farms and the various interactions they have with the environment. Details |
| 12-Apr-'04 |
Europe. Swiss Re, the global insurance group, has just published its assessment of global insurance claims in 2003. It noted that "drought conditions in Central, Eastern and Southern Europe produced 2003's largest insurance loss (US14billion)" and that there is "increasing evidence for a rise in extreme weather events" around the world. Details |
| 07-Apr-'04 |
Europe. European Commission funded study predicts 67,600MW of wind capacity in Europe by 2010 (also contains useful data on historical installation rates in Europe). Details |
| Apr-'04 |
US - Harvard Business Review. An interesting article in the HBR which considers the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) market and notes that, like it or not, it is something which is going to happen and for which companies must therefore prepare themselves. It states that companies that do not have a GHG strategy are in a risky position.
On Kyoto: whether or not the Kyoto Protocol is ratified there is going to be an international market in GHGs in addition to which and despite the negative stance of the current US administration, pressure is growing in the US for a federal GHG program. Details |
| Apr-'04 |
United States. In the absence of a federal program for reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions many states are going it alone and devising their own programs to reduce GHG emissions. The Pew Center on Climate Change has a portion of its web site devoted to this subject and this also contains a number of useful maps and charts. www.pewclimate.org |
| 31-Mar-'04 |
Global. Closing statement from the Global wind industry conference in Chicago . Contains useful data on installation rates and installed capacities. ( 86kB) |
| 29-Mar-'04 |
Australia. CSIRO publishes details of global atmospheric emissions of Carbon Dioxide which show growth rates have increased sharply in 2003. The data corresponds with information released earlier this week by NOAA of the US. Details |
| 18-Mar-'04 |
Denmark. Electricity produced by wind turbines increased to 15.3% of total consumption in 2003. Details |
| 10-Mar-'04 |
Global. Release on global installed wind power growth to end 2003.( 143kB) |
| 11-Feb-'04 |
United States. Pew Center releases a report 'Coral Reefs and Climate Change'. This paints a pretty bleak picture for coral reefs around the world as a result of climate change. The impacts on reefs do not arise solely because of atmospheric warming but also because of changes in near surface ocean chemistry as a result of elevated levels of Carbon Dioxide and other factors. Details |
| 02-Mar-'04 |
Global. EWEA/DEWI release highlighting key markets for the period to 2012 and predicting global growth to 150,000MW of installed capacity ( 150kB) |
| 03-Feb-'04 |
Europe. EWEA release detailing the expansion of wind power around Europe in 2003. The report notes that the installed wind power capacity increased by 23% in 2003 Year-on-Year and notes that, while some new markets are emerging, activity in Europe remains concentrated amongst three countries. Details |
| 00-Feb-'04 |
Australia. An article in the German Wind Energy Association's monthly magazine (Magazin fuer erneuerbare Energien) gives a good summary of the status of the Australian wind energy market and also talks of some of the grass roots support being shown for wind power by ordinary citizens ( 205kB)
The German Wind Energy Association (www.wind-energie.de) |
