New Zealand:

Geothermal Power Helps New Zealand Breaks Renewable Energy Record (UPI.com)

"This is a clear sign that when a government enables a market with direction and certainty, it results in real investor confidence."

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

The share of renewable energy on the grid in New Zealand is the highest it's been in close to 20 years, the country's energy minister said Thursday. The share of electricity generated from renewable resources last year was 79.9 percent, a 5 percent increase from the previous year.

The government attributed the rise to the growth in geothermal generation, which more than doubled in the last decade. In his statement Thursday, Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges said geothermal energy contributed more to the New Zealand grid than natural gas last year.

"This is a clear sign that when a government enables a market with direction and certainty, it results in real investor confidence," he said.

The government aims to have 90 percent of its electricity supplies through renewable resources by 2025.

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