Total Resource Available (Consumer Energy) at Less Than 15c/kWh

Submission on the Te Apiti Wind Farm Development

[ Last Updated 12 January 2006 ]

Resource	2012 (GWh/y)			2025 (GWh/y)
Resource	High confidence	Medium confidence	Low confidence	High confidence	Medium confidence	Low confidence
Wind	4095	9550	13645	4285	10005	14300
Hydro	5940	11370	17990	5940	11370	17990

Note: High confidence resources are those that are well proven and readily able to be permitted and developed. Achievable development rate has been taken into account. High confidence resources represent an 80-90% confidence that the uptake will occur. Medium confidence estimates represent a median estimate of uptake. Generally these are associated with a more liberal consenting environment. Low confidence estimates represent resources that can be developed but difficulties are expected in terms of permitting and access. They represent a 10-20% confidence that the uptake will occur. Confidence levels are cumulative e.g. the medium confidence resource available will include both the high and medium confidence bands.

The study identifies that the technology associated with wind power continues to mature, which in turn continues to reduce the unit cost of generation. By 2012, generation in the 4-6c/kWh band will be possible, with the largest resource available in the 6-10c/kWh band. By 2025, considerably more of the resource could be available for generation in the 4-6c/kWh band.¹ Technological advancement, when combined with New Zealand's wind resource, provides a potentially major opportunity to utilise this renewable resource for electricity generation.

Wind energy, as with other renewable energy sources, is an environmentally responsible alternative to energy derived from fossil fuels because generation does not produce carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide emissions could be significantly reduced if the potential of wind energy was fully exploited. By contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gases, the Te Apiti wind farm would assist New Zealand in meeting its commitments under the Kyoto Protocol [link to UNFCCC website].

¹A similar study by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), Review of New Zealand's Wind Energy Potential to 2015, identifies that wind energy currently provides approximately 0.5% (150GWh/y) of New Zealand's electricity and could potentially provide 23% (7,900GWh/y) of present electricity needs at costs of up to 10 c/kWh within 10-15 years.