New Zealand:

Geothermal Contributes 54% of Renewable Energy in New Zealand (New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment)

The New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has today published Energy in New Zealand 2014, which contains a wide range of energy-related information based on new and consolidated statistics.

Energy in New Zealand 2014 details the supply, transformation and use of all types of fuel in New Zealand. It also contains information on energy prices, international comparisons and oil and gas reserves.

The contribution of renewable sources to the primary energy supply increased in 2013, from 37.5% in 2012 to 38.2%. This was due to increased geothermal generation, with new plants increasing the geothermal contribution to 54% of total renewable primary energy.

There was an increase in geothermal generation, from 5,843 GWh in 2012 to 6,053 GWh in 2013. In the 2013 calendar year, geothermal generation was boosted by the new geothermal power stations coming online near Taupo. The Ngatamariki power plant was fully commissioned in 2013 and late in the year, the Te Mihi power station generated electricity while in its testing phase. The Te Mihi geothermal power station will be commissioned in late 2014, and will increase geothermal capacity by a net 114 MW. The increase in geothermal baseload generation reduces the extent that fossil fuels are required in peak demand periods.

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