350MW of renewable energy potential in Taranaki
31 August 2006
More than 350 MW of potential electricity generation from renewable resources has been identified in the Taranaki region.
The study, commissioned by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), identified the amount of renewable energy that could be realised in the Taranaki region.
The report identified opportunities across several technologies, including:
- Wind: 300 MW of wind generation capacity
- Hydro: 60 MW of small and medium hydro generation projects
- Biomass: 10 MW of electricity generation from forestry biomass
- Solar: significant potential for domestic solar hot water systems
There is also potential for extensive electricity generation from Taranaki’s wave energy resource in the future.
The assessment did not account for the effect environmental and cultural issues will have on this renewable energy potential. These are addressed at a local level through the Resource Management Act.
The resources are all available outside National Parks and use technologies that are already economic or are likely to become economic over the course of the next ten years.
‘Councils are continuously planning for the best ways to use their resources. The uses are many and varied – energy generation being just one area for consideration,’ said Heather Staley, Chief Executive of EECA.
‘We realised there was an opportunity for central government to work with Taranaki Regional Council to identify what renewable energy resources they have in their area, and then how to integrate this information into their planning processes’.
David Walter, Taranaki Regional Council Chairman, said that the Council's existing and proposed policies allow for the sustainable development of renewable resources in the Taranaki region.
Renewable energy resources have a major role to play in meeting our demand for energy. EECA works to remove the barriers and provide information to encourage the uptake of renewable energy in New Zealand.
For further information, please contact:
Anna Warren, Marketing and Communications Advisor, EECA, 04 470 2229, or
Rusty Ritchie, Senior Information Officer, Taranaki Regional Council, 06 765 7127