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Energy Data File January 2003 Energy Overview

[ Last Updated 9 January 2006 ]
Status:Archived

Contents

New Zealand's total primary energy supply and total consumer energy for calendar year 2001 rose 0.2% to 760 PJ and 0.4% to 461 PJ respectively compared to 2000. New Zealand's total consumer energy was dominated by domestic transport, with 188 PJ or 41% of total consumer energy.

Statistics in this overview are in gross petajoules (PJ) and for the calendar year 2001 unless otherwise specified. For a full description of terms used, see the Glossary.

A.1 Energy Flows

Energy flows through the New Zealand economy from supply to end use, some energy being transformed from one type to another (such as from coal to electricity) in the process. These energy flows are displayed graphically [55 KB PDF] and tabulated as an energy balance in Table A.1 below. Note that international transport and non-energy use are, for graphical simplicity, included on the demand side of the figure but, by statistical convention, on the supply side of the table.

Table A.1: Energy Supply and Demand Balance 2001

Gross Calorific Values in PetajoulesFossil FuelsRenewables  
CoalOilGasHydroGeo­thermalOtherElec­tricityTOTAL
S
U
P
P
L
Y
 Indigenous production103.481.8247.577.083.951.5 645.1
+Imports less exports1-55.6209.7-0.5    153.7
-International transport 38.9     38.9
TOTAL PRIMARY ENERGY47.7252.6247.177.083.951.5 759.8
 Energy transformation-17.5-15.2-122.0-77.0-70.8-21.8125.3-198.9
 Non-energy use -10.8-89.3    -100.1
CONSUMER ENERGY (calculated)30.3226.635.8 13.129.7125.3460.9
D
E
M
A
N
D
 Agriculture0.613.3    5.719.5
 Industrial34.012.919.6 10.523.151.6151.7
 Commercial5.14.510.1  0.223.042.9
 Residential0.71.86.0 2.66.541.359.0
 Domestic transport0.1185.50.1   1.8187.5
CONSUMER ENERGY (observed)40.6218.035.8 13.129.7123.4460.6
Statistical differences-10.38.60.0 0.00.01.90.2

This table summarises the detailed energy balances presented in Table B.2d.

Total primary energy supply, energy transformation, and consumer energy demand are discussed and presented in detail in the remainder of this overview, followed by sections on energy greenhouse gas emissions and the energy supply and demand outlook to 2020.

A.2 Primary Energy Supply (PJ)

Total Primary Energy Supply (TPES) is the amount of energy available for use in New Zealand for energy transformation and end use. It includes energy as it is first obtained from natural sources, which means that coal is accounted for as it is mined, indigenous oil and natural gas as they are extracted from wells, imported oil and oil products as they are imported, and hydro as it is used for electricity generation (assuming efficiency of 100%). Geothermal is accounted for on the basis of its use as an input to electricity generation (assuming efficiency of 10% from years 1974 to 1999 and 15% from year 2000) including cogeneration, plus an estimate of losses, own use and geothermal used directly as a heat source. TPES includes imports but excludes exports, and makes allowance for any stock change. By convention, fuels used for international transport are excluded from TPES.

Table A.2: Total Primary Energy Supply 1974-2001

Calendar YearCoal (Net)Impor­ted Oil and Oil ProductsIndi­genous Oil (Net)GasHydroGeo­ther­malOther
Renew­ables2
Total
PJ
197462.80177.377.9812.9254.1355.0722.64392.92
197559.10191.078.2814.0359.3955.2124.42411.50
197660.90156.6621.9637.5455.2452.7425.34410.38
197758.00146.6931.5061.6752.4649.7627.64427.72
197853.50142.1626.8157.9255.8150.6527.94414.79
197947.70145.8417.9038.0665.7345.6827.38388.30
198049.06148.0215.7135.3169.0257.0630.12404.30
198148.88139.0621.0443.6370.1454.4230.76407.92
198247.27123.6132.1378.5665.2455.1929.81431.80
198353.09124.1531.5285.4370.3970.9429.75465.27
198450.68116.0540.80109.2372.6283.0531.41503.84
198545.57115.3631.38140.5670.2478.9331.07513.11
198652.3799.9958.56168.9078.7682.2630.83571.67
198748.06104.7459.44162.8078.1571.7032.05556.94
198847.42100.3361.72176.3381.8463.0633.35564.05
198951.51114.0957.01181.4680.4079.2633.78597.52
199052.55141.1346.92180.9382.6392.6535.23632.04
199146.61137.5946.63196.2681.6096.1634.97639.81
199249.37141.8946.39208.2075.1797.7035.78654.51
199354.57144.5244.04203.0583.73101.9936.13668.03
199443.84161.7437.21188.9092.0896.0536.06655.89
199548.80189.4031.22179.1698.1393.3036.38676.39
199645.41186.7740.99204.1792.5791.8738.94700.72
199748.03182.1449.65218.9284.9495.9541.93721.56
199850.48206.5330.73193.0686.99105.4948.25721.55
199949.57222.9326.73223.5483.60115.2450.95772.57
200047.49223.7826.41235.1987.7985.9751.89758.52
200147.75231.3121.29247.0777.0183.9251.50759.85

Chart A.2a: Total Primary Energy Supply 1974-2001

Link to footnote 3Chart A.2a: Total Primary Energy Supply 1974-2001

New Zealand's TPES for calendar years 1974 to 2001 is presented in Table A.2 and Chart A.2a. TPES was 760 PJ in the calendar year 2001, up 93% on the 393 PJ supplied in the calendar year 1974. Other renewables, gas and net indigenous oil supply increased their shares of total primary energy from 5.8%, 3.3% and 2.0% in 1974 to 6.8%, 32.5% and 2.8% respectively in 2001. The shares of imported oil and oil products (for definition of terms used see Glossary, Section K), coal, geothermal and hydro declined from 45.1%, 16.0%, 14.0% and 13.8% in 1974 to 30.4%, 6.3%, 11.1% and 10.1% respectively in 2001.

Chart A.2b: Total Primary Energy Supply Shares 2001

Link to footnote 4Chart A.2b: Total Primary Energy Supply Shares 2001

Chart A.2b shows New Zealand's TPES shares for calendar year 2001. TPES increased 0.2% to 760 PJ compared with 759 PJ in calendar year 2000. In 2001, oil provided 253 PJ (33%), gas 247 PJ (33%), geothermal 84 PJ (11%), hydro 77 PJ (10%), other renewables 51 PJ (7%) and coal 48 PJ (6%) of TPES. In total, fossil fuels contributed 547 PJ or 72% and renewables 213 PJ or 28%.

A.3 Energy Transformation

New Zealand's energy transformation industry includes petroleum refining, petrochemicals and electricity generation. New Zealand has one oil refinery: its main feedstocks are imported crude, blendstock and indigenous crude and condensate. In 2001, 92% of refinery input was from imported crude and refinery feedstocks, and the other 8% was from indigenous crude and condensate. In 2001, 36% of New Zealand's natural gas extracted was used for petrochemicals for the production of chemical methanol and ammonia/urea production. There has been no synthetic petrol production since February 1997, and in April 1999, Methanex New Zealand permanently closed the methanol to petrol unit at the Motunui plant. In 2001, 56% of input into electricity generation including cogeneration was from renewable resources, of which 47% was from hydro and 40% was from geothermal.

Overall, energy transformation in 2001 was around 12% higher than the 2000 level. This was mainly due to an increase in electricity generation from coal, gas and geothermal.

A.4 Consumer Energy Demand

Consumer energy is energy used by final consumers. It excludes energy used or lost in transformation and in bringing the energy to the final consumers. For example, natural gas is a source of primary energy, some of which is transformed into electricity, of which some is used or lost in transmission and distribution to consumers.

Table A.4a: Total Consumer Energy by Fuel

Calendar YearCoal5OilGas6Geo­ther­mal
Direct Use
Elec­tricityOther
Renew­ables7
Total8
 PJ
199737.7201.735.313.3113.727.7429.3
199837.6204.136.913.6117.729.1439.0
199935.8208.239.514.3119.629.4446.9
200035.1220.038.613.8121.829.6458.9
200140.6218.035.813.1123.429.7460.6
 % of annual
19978.847.08.23.126.56.4100
19988.646.58.43.126.86.6100
19998.046.68.83.226.86.6100
20007.747.98.43.026.56.4100
20018.847.37.82.826.86.5100

Chart A.4a: Total Consumer Energy by Fuel 2001

Link to footnote 9Link to footnote 10Link to footnote 11Chart A.4a: Total Consumer Energy by Fuel 2001

The total consumer energy by fuel for calendar years 1997 to 2001 is presented in Table A.4a and illustrated in Chart A.4a for calendar year 2001. Total consumer energy (observed) in 2001 increased 0.4% to 460.6 PJ compared with 458.9 PJ in 2000. Oil consumption comprises around 218.0 PJ (47.3%), with electricity 123.4 PJ (26.8%), coal 40.6 PJ (8.8%), gas 35.8 PJ (7.8%) with other renewables such as biogas, wastes and wood making up 29.7 PJ (6.5%) and geothermal direct use 13.1 PJ (2.8%). Compared with the year before, the relative share of coal, electricity and other renewables increased by 15.4%, 1.3% and 0.6% respectively in 2001, while gas, geothermal direct use, and oil fell by 7.1%, 5.1% and 0.9% respectively between 2000 and 2001.

Chart A.4b: Total Consumer Energy Fuel Shares from Calendar Year 1974 to 2001

Link to footnote 12Link to footnote 13Link to footnote 14Chart A.4b: Total Consumer Energy Fuel Shares from Calendar Year 1974 to 2001

The shares of consumer energy by fuel from calendar year 1974 to 2001 are illustrated in Chart A.4b. Compared with 1974, electricity and gas increased their share of total consumer energy from 21% and 3.3% respectively to 27% and 7.8% respectively in 2001. Geothermal direct use increased its share slightly from 2.5% in 1980 to 2.8% in 2001, while other renewables were steady during the same period. The shares of oil and coal declined from 55% and 15% in 1974 to 47% and 8.8% respectively in 2001.

Table A.4b: Total Consumer Energy by Sector

Calendar YearAgri­cultureIndust­rial15Com­mercial16Resi­dentialDom­estic
Tran­sport
Total17
 PJ
199719.4145.837.157.1169.9429.3
199820.3149.438.358.3172.8439.0
199920.7151.839.857.3177.2446.9
200019.1152.041.158.3188.4458.9
200119.5151.742.959.0187.5460.6
 % of annual
19974.534.08.613.339.6100
19984.634.08.713.339.4100
19994.634.08.912.839.7100
20004.233.19.012.741.1100
20014.332.99.312.840.7100

Chart A.4c: Total Consumer Energy by Sector 2001

Link to footnote 18Link to footnote 19Chart A.4c: Total Consumer Energy by Sector 2001

Total consumer energy by sector from 1997 to 2001 is presented in Table A.4b, and the shares in 2001 are illustrated in Chart A.4c. Out of all the sectors, domestic transport (excluding international transport) consumption accounts for the largest share, 40.7% of total consumer energy. Compared with the year before, the commercial, agriculture and residential sectors increased their share of total consumer energy by 4.3%, 2.3% and 1.2% respectively, while the shares domestic transport and industrial sectors fell by 0.5% and 0.2% respectively from 2000 to 2001..

Table A.4c: Total Renewable Consumer Energy

Calendar YearTotal
Elec-
tricity
Renew-
able
 Elec-
tricity
Other
Renew-
ables20
Geo-
thermal
Direct Use
Total
Renew-
able
 Energy
 PJ
1997113.784.127.713.3125.0
1998117.788.429.113.6131.1
1999119.688.529.414.3132.3
2000121.890.429.613.8133.8
2001123.481.629.713.1124.4
 % of annual
1997 67.322.110.6100
1998 67.422.210.4100
1999 66.922.310.8100
2000 67.622.110.3100
2001 65.623.910.5100

Chart A.4d: Total Renewable Consumer Energy 2001

Link to footnote 21Chart A.4d: Total Renewable Consumer Energy 2001

Table A.4c shows total renewable consumer energy for calendar years 1997 to 2001. Total renewable consumer energy was 124 PJ for the calendar year 2001, a decrease of 0.5% over four years. During calendar year 2001, renewable electricity contributed 82 PJ or about 66% of total electricity consumption.

A.5 Energy Greenhouse Gas Emissions22

Chart A.5: Energy CO2 Emissions Sectoral Share

Link to footnote 23Chart A.5: Energy CO2 Emissions Sectoral Share

Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fuel combustion in the energy sector were about 29 million tonnes in 2001. The energy sector contributes around 91% of New Zealand's national gross human-made CO2 emissions with the remainder from industrial processes. Chart A.5 shows New Zealand energy CO2 emissions by source, excluding international transport, in 2001.

New Zealand's overall per capita CO2 emissions have been estimated by the IEA to be 8.1 tonnes of CO2 using 1999 data. This compares favourably with those of many other developed countries.

Other greenhouse gases emitted from energy sources include nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4). The amount of these gases emitted is small compared with CO2, and agriculture rather than the energy sector is the main contributor of both these gases.

A.6 Energy Outlook

The Ministry of Economic Development's Energy Modelling and Statistics Unit publishes an occasional Energy Outlook. A comprehensive set of new projections was published in February 2000. A revised energy outlook report is being prepared and will be published shortly.

The February 2000 Outlook presents energy supply and demand scenarios for New Zealand to 2020. The scenarios are developed and analysed using the Ministry's SADEM long-range energy model, which estimates the market clearing pattern of energy supply and demand.

The February 2000 Outlook presents a baseline scenario that assumes 3% per annum (pa) GDP growth from 2003 on, new gas discoveries averaging 80 PJ pa, oil prices dipping in the short term before rising to a plateau of US$22/bbl in 2015, coal prices rising from around NZ$2.66/GJ in 1998 to NZ$3/GJ in 2010 before stabilising, and current policy settings.

This scenario projects consumer energy demand to grow by 1.1% pa between 1998 and 2020 or 1.8% pa excluding the gas used at the petrochemicals plants. The former includes 2.0% pa growth in the transport sector, 2.1% pa growth in the residential sector, and a 0.3% pa decline in the industrial and commercial sector (due to the closure of the petrochemicals plants). Oil and electricity are projected to increase their consumer energy fuel shares with a slight decline in the fuel share for coal. A significant decline for gas's share is projected if the methanol plants close around 2005, as assumed.

Some 2,200 MW of electricity generation capacity is projected to be economic by 2020. This is a relatively modest amount in comparison to the 1,100 MW of capacity that was added in the three years to 2000. The current "supply bubble" of new generation capacity is expected to mute new generation developments to around 2005, and together with recent industry reforms, will result in lower wholesale electricity prices in the short to medium term.


1This entry makes allowance for stock changes.

2"Other Renewables" includes electricity generation from wind, biogas, industrial waste and wood.

3"Other Renewables" includes electricity generation from wind, biogas, industrial waste and wood.

4"Other Renewables" includes electricity generation from wind, biogas, industrial waste and wood.

5Excludes cogeneration.

6Excludes cogeneration.

7"Other Renewables" includes direct use of biogas, industrial waste and wood.

8Totals may not add up due to rounding.

9Excludes cogeneration.

10Excludes cogeneration.

11"Other Renewables" includes direct use of biogas, industrial waste and wood.

12Excludes cogeneration.

13Excludes cogeneration.

14"Other Renewables" includes direct use of biogas, industrial waste and wood.

15Excludes cogeneration.

16Excludes cogeneration.

17Totals may not add up due to rounding.

18Excludes cogeneration.

19Excludes cogeneration.

20"Other Renewables" includes direct use of biogas, industrial waste and wood.

21"Other Renewables" includes direct use of biogas, industrial waste and wood.

22For more information see Energy Greenhouse Gas Emissions 1990-2001.

23Petroleum refining, synthetic petrol production, and oil and gas extraction and processing.

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