Distributed generation in government

Distributed generation is electricity generated from smaller-scale systems and used on-site or nearby.

Local government organisations may be able to generate electricity locally from council-owned buildings, sports or recreation centres, water distribution systems, and sewage facilities. This locally-generated electricity can reduce electricity usage on site, and also potentially be sold into the electricity market or directly to other users, to generate an additional revenue stream.

Local government also plays an important role in supporting distributed generation projects through the resource and building consent processes.

Find out more about supporting distributed generation projects.

Distributed generation potential for local government

At landfill sites biogas can often be generated by wet organic material decomposing in the right conditions. The landfill has to be covered to prevent the gas from escaping into the atmosphere. It is then captured and can be used in a gas turbine to generate electricity, or used directly as a heat source.

At some sewage treatment plants biogas can be produced, captured, and utilised. This process can have the additional benefit of reducing waste to landfill or incineration.

In some parts of New Zealand, it may be possible to use geothermal energy as a heat source for swimming pools and recreation centres.

In some water distribution systems or water discharges, providing there is sufficient pressure and flow, it may be possible to use micro-hydro to generate electricity. This may also potentially control water flow into reservoirs.

In some situations there may be potential for council-owned land to be used for small-scale wind generation or small-scale hydro generation.

Read more about distributed generation.

More information 

• Domestic scale distributed generation: guidance for local government (May 2010) An EECA guide covering photovoltaic (solar electric panels), micro and small-scale wind turbines, and micro and small-scale hydro turbines. The document is intended to provide information to local government on these technologies, the extent and likelihood of any adverse effects associated with the technologies, and ways that these effects can be mitigated.

• Get smart, think small: Local energy systems for New Zealand (December 2006).
  This report was commissioned by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment.

• Developing small-scale renewable energy projects in New Zealand (June 2008).
  This report provides high level guidance to independent renewable energy project developers who wish to investigate and progress distributed generation projects. The report focuses on geothermal, hydro and wind projects in the range of 10 kW to 20 MW.  The report was commissioned by EECA and prepared by Sinclair Knight Merz Pty Ltd.