Menu

Wind generation in New Zealand

In 2019, wind comprised 5.1% of total generation and provided enough electricity to power the whole of New Zealand for 19 days.

Visit www.em6live.co.nz to find out how much electricity is being generated by wind farms right now.

Annual wind generation

Year Generation
(GWh)
% of total
Generation
2019 2,232 5.1
2018 2,047 4.7
2017 2,065 4.8
2016 2,307 5.4
2015 2,340 5.4
2014 2,189 5.2
2013 2,002 4.8
2012 2,058 4.8
2011 1,938 4.5
2010 1,621 3.7
2009 1,462 3.5
2008 1,048 2.5
2007 921 2.2
2006 616 1.5
2005 608 1.5
2004 358 0.9
2003 145 0.4
2002 154 0.4
2001 138 0.4
2000 119 0.3
     

(Source: Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment)

Generation capacity

The combined capacity – or the rated output – of wind farms in New Zealand is 689 megawatts. What this means is that at any given moment, if all wind farms were operating at full capacity they could produce 689 megawatts of electricity.

Wind turbines in New Zealand operate about 90% of the time, but the amount of electricity they generate is dependent on wind conditions. This is why wind generation is often referred to as “variable generation”.

Wind farms, while variable in respect of short term production, are reasonably consistent on a quarterly and annual basis.  In addition the physical dispersion of wind farms enables a base load production characteristic as generally the wind is blowing somewhere in New Zealand at any given time.

On an annual basis, New Zealand wind farms generate at an average of around 40% of their rated output - this figure is also referred as “capacity factor” and is among the highest in the world.

Capacity factor is defined as the amount of electricity actually generated relative to the amount that would have been produced if the generator had been running at its full output over the same period. Capacity factor is a measure of productivity and is not a measure of efficiency, nor a measure of the time spent operating.

No form of generation produces electricity at its full output, 100% of the time, so a capacity factor of less than 100% does not mean a form of generation is unreliable. Hydro generation has an annual average capacity factor of around 50%, gas 65%, geothermal 80%.

New Zealand's total operational generating capacity

Plant Type
Operational capacity (2019) 
(MW)

Wind
689
Hydro
5,389
Gas
1,286
Coal/gas 500
Geothermal 957
Diesel 183
Other 272
Total
9,276

(Source: Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment)