1. Introduction
This report has been prepared for the Ministry of Economic Development to identify and evaluate options for additional power generation in New Zealand in the short term.
The report concentrates on projects that can be on line in less than three to four years. The projects we have identified so far are described in terms of:
- potential capacity
- time to implement (assuming that they were, if necessary, "fast tracked" through the approvals process)
- any Resource Management Act and other regulatory issues that may need to be overcome
- a high level assessment of their effects on the environment.
There are many candidate projects, some of which could be implemented quickly and relatively easily. Others could be implemented quickly provided the regulatory issues can be resolved rapidly. Most do not have what we would regard as serious negative environmental effects.
The summary table below indicates what could be done. The totals are indicative only as some projects exclude others. Nevertheless it indicates that there is a significant number of opportunities.
We have noted, during the preparation of this report that the generating companies are also presently active in individually seeking plant to meet short and intermediate term needs. This report serves to provide an independent overview and assessment of known generation opportunities.
Options for 2003
Projects that could be on line within 6 months. (The time to implement includes a number of assumptions which are detailed in Section 2 of this report.)
| Opportunity | Nominal Capacity | Time to Implement |
| Rental or Purchased Gas Turbines | 130MW | 2 to 4 months |
| New/relocated GTs or Gas Engines | 200MW | 3 to 6 months |
| Power Barge | 96MW | 4 to 6 months |
| Existing Standby Generation | 75MW | immediately |
| New Standby Generation | 30 +MW | 1 to 3 months |
| Geothermal - Poihipi | 10MW | immediately |
| Hydro - Mangahao (committed) | 4MW | Due to be ready for winter 2003 |
| Te Rapa Old Cogen | 3.5MW | 3 months |
| Degussa - Morrinsville | 1.5MW | 3 -6 months |
| Windpower - Wintorque - Christchurch | 0.5MW | Due to be ready for winter 2003 |
| Landfill Gas - various sites | 25MW | 3 to 6 months |
| Stranded Gas - various sites | 60MW | 3 to 6 months |
| Auckland Hospital Cogen (Committed) | 5MW | Scheduled end 2003 |
| TOTAL | 640MW | |
Options for 2004
| Opportunity | Nominal Capacity | Time to Implement |
| New Gas Turbines | 200MW | 6 to 12 months |
| Geothermal - Ohaaki - deep drilling | 20MW | 6 to 9 months |
| Geothermal - Kawerau Binary | 6MW | 12 months |
| Poihipi - more drilling ± steam interconnect | 20-30MW | 6 to 12 months |
| Ohaaki - deep drilling | 30MW | Within 9 months |
| Tararua Wind Farm | 36MW | Due by mid 2004 |
| Te Apiti Wind Farm (initial units) | 20MW | Due by end of 2004 |
| Coal Seam Methane - various sites | 20MW | 6 to 9 months |
| Sewage/Biogas - various sites | 20MW | 6 to 12 months |
| Refinery - Cogeneration | 20MW | Within 12 months |
| Kawerau wellhead Geothermal | 10MW | by end 2004 |
| Rotokawa wellhead Geothermal | 5MW | by end 2004 |
| Other wellhead Geothermal | 12MW | by end 2004 |
| Rotokawa bottoming Geothermal | 3MW | by end 2004 |
| Mokai bottoming Geothermal | 8MW | by end 2004 |
| Ohaaki bottoming Geothermal | 10MW | by end 2004 |
| Wairakei binary Geothermal | 15MW | by end 2004 |
| TOTAL | 460MW | |
Options for 2005 and Beyond
There are many options for 2005 and beyond that are detailed in section 3 of this report. A summary of all options is included in Appendix B.
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