Green energy

Are renewable sources used to generate electricity?

Electricity in New Zealand is generated from a variety of sources, both renewable and non-renewable.

Renewable or “green” sources are generally considered to be things that can be naturally replenished, while non-renewable sources tend to be fossil fuels such as gas or coal.

Around 73 percent of New Zealand’s electricity is generated from renewable sources. The remaining 27 percent is generated from non-renewable sources such as gas and coal. The government’s energy policy aims for 90 percent of electricity generation to come from renewable sources by 2025.

What renewable energy sources are available?

In New Zealand, current renewable energy sources include:

• Hydro energy uses water passing through turbines at large hydro stations such as Manapouri and Clyde. Hydro power makes up around 60 percent of New Zealand’s electricity.
• Geothermal energy uses the earth’s heat and steam such as at stations in the Taupo volcanic area. Geothermal power makes up around 10 percent of New Zealand’s electricity.
• Wind energy converts wind into electricity through large wind turbines. Wind power makes up around 3 percent of New Zealand’s electricity.
• Solar energy converts the sun’s radiation into power through photovoltaic (solar) panels. Solar power makes up only around 0.1 percent of New Zealand’s electricity.
• Marine energy converts waves and tidal motion into electricity through turbines in the ocean. This is a new and developing technology that is still at a design and testing stage. However, the potential exists for significant electricity generation.

Can I guarantee the electricity to my house is from a renewable source?

If you get your power from an electricity retailer, the simple answer is no.

While most of New Zealand’s power is generated by hydro power stations, these can be affected by low levels of rainfall and melting snow. Less water means less power is produced, so the shortfall is often made up by using an alternative non-renewable source such as coal or gas.

Even if a generating company claims to produce 100 percent of its electricity from renewable sources, it does not mean that the retail electricity to your home came from 100 percent renewable sources. All of the generating companies feed the power they produce (from renewable and non-renewable sources) into the national grid. So the power in the national grid is a combination of both types – and it becomes impossible to say that your particular power is from either a renewable or non-renewable source alone.

The only way to ensure all your electricity is from a renewable source is to create your own power – such as from your own solar panels, mini hydro station or wind turbines.

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) provides a list of companies that provide renewable energy products and services which you can view here.