New Zealand Boosts Renewable Power as Part of 4,400 Megawatts in Projects Planned

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources Australia (Perth, Australia)--Power in New Zealand is generated mainly by renewable energy sources, such as hydropower, geothermal power and, increasingly, wind energy. The 70% share of renewable energy sources makes New Zealand one of the lowest carbon dioxide-emitting countries.

Industrial Info is currently tracking 45 power projects in New Zealand that are in the planning and engineering stage and are scheduled to kick off construction from 2013 onward, including 18 wind generation projects, 14 hydro, three geothermal, two natural gas-fired and one coal bed methane. When constructed, the proposed power projects will add an additional 4,400 megawatts (MW) to the New Zealand grid.

The largest proposed windfarm is the grassroot, 860-MW Masterton Castle Hill Wind Farm, 20 kilometres northeast of Masterton in New Zealand's North Island. Project developers Genesis Energy Limited (Auckland, New Zealand) are continuing with the permitting for the $1.6 billion project, which proposes to use up to 286 structural steel towers, each fitted with a 2.5-MW to 3-MW turbine generator. If approved, the project is scheduled to kick off in the first quarter of 2014, with an estimated completion date in late 2017.

Meridian Energy (Wellington, New Zealand) is conducting an economic evaluation for a major grassroot, 260-MW Waitaki River hydro development project. The project is estimated to cost about $400 million and will be built at two sites along the river, utilizing two to six 65-MW Francis hydraulic turbine generators. The project is still in its early development stages as owners prepare to go to market for contractors, with expected financial approval and a kickoff date in 2016.

Contact Energy Limited (Wellington, New Zealand) is receiving resource consent and is continuing with the site selection for a natural gas-fired unit addition at the existing, 380-MW Otahuhu Power Station, near Auckland. The $420 million project will utilize one to four combustion turbine generators in a combined-cycle configuration to provide an additional 400 MW to the New Zealand grid. Contact Energy Limited plans to release bid documents for contractors in early 2014, with construction scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2014.

Industrial Info's database says the New Zealand projects range from 1 MW to 860 MW in capacity and, if approved, will total an investment value of more than $8 billion.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, and eight offices outside of North America, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle™, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities.