New Zealand releases report on the economic benefits of wind power
By Sarah Vaughan, New Zealand Wind Energy Association
New Zealand last week geared up for Global Wind Day, with the NZ Wind Energy Association and its members focusing on the benefits of wind energy and enabling people to experience wind energy.
We kicked off proceedings with an industry and stakeholder networking event in the Capital on Wednesday, June 13. At the event NZWEA released a report that examines the economic benefits of wind farms in NZ, in particular current and future employment opportunities. We think many people were pleasantly surprised by some of the conclusions the report reaches.
From there the focus moved to Central Otago, where New Zealand’s newest wind farm was officially opened on Global Wind Day. While Mt Stuart is a small project, at only 8 MW, it is an exciting project for us as it marks the entry of Spanish turbine supplier Gamesa into the Australasian market. Also on Global Wind Day, over 250 secondary students visited a wind farm in the Manawatu and learnt about employment opportunities in the industry.
NZWEA is running a national colouring competition for primary and intermediate schools – our members have come on board to offer prizes such as the chance to go to the top of a turbine and a class trip to a wind farm.
All and all, we’re expecting to generate some very positive energy around wind energy in this coming month. New Zealand is a windy country and events like Global Wind Day help us enable this resource to really work for the country. Wind already provides about 5% of New Zealand’s electricity. The NZ wind industry’s goal is to be supplying 20% by 2030.
Prospects for Wind Energy usage are very high in New Zealand.
At present Wind power in New Zealand generates a small but rapidly growing proportion of the country’s electricity. Having only become a established generation source in the late 1990′s, in 2012 wind power accounts for 622 MW of installed capacity and nearly 5 percent of electricity generated in the country.
New Zealand is right in the path of the Roaring Forties, creating an excellent resource for wind generation. The funneling effect of Cook Strait and the Manawatu Gorge exacerbate the resource’s potential, making the Lower North Island the main region for wind generation – 70 percent of the nation’s current installed capacity lies within this region, with some turbines recording over 50 percent capacity factor in this area
New Zealand has outstanding wind resources, due to its position astride the Roaring Forties, resulting in nearly continuous strong westerly winds over many locations, unimpeded by other nearby landmasses at similar latitude. One study found that using 1% of total available land for wind farms would produce approximately 100,000 gigawatt hours (GWh) per year. This is roughly two times the annual electricity consumption of New Zealand. Nearly continuous however does not mean continuous: a high-pressure weather system can cover the entire country, meaning no significant winds anywhere.
The strength and consistency of New Zealand winds means the nationwide capacity factor is high compared to other countries, averaging between 30 and 35 percent, with some individual turbines recording capacity factors above 50 percent
Dr.A.Jagadeesh Nellore(AP),India
Wind Energy Expert
E-mail: anumakonda.jagadeesh@gmail.com