The Hodges
23rd July 2007, 03:13 PM
I have just received an email in to my inbox, titled "So why does New Zealand not harness more wind power?" by Colin Sutherland MRICS, RICS Oceania Sustainability Group dated 16 July 2007. As I couldn't think of an immediate group for it, I've put it in Real Esate, as it is probably most relevant here.
It raises some interesting points, so I'd thought I'd share it with you:
There has been saturation coverage of sustainable issues in every press article, television bulletin and the web in recent months.
Much of this coverage is devoted to saving energy, reducing carbon footprints and the promotion of ‘green’ issues which New Zealand can take a lead in, but could struggle on some.
Much of New Zealand shivers for three months through the winter and most of the housing stock remains poorly heated, inadequately insulated and badly ventilated.
This creates a living environment where New Zealand has some of the highest rates of respiratory diseases (asthma/bronchitis) in the ‘western world’ and contrary to reducing power, householders are being encouraged to ‘turn the heat-up’ as far as budgets will allow.
Having better-insulated houses incorporating efficient heating systems, along with a major shift to the use of heat pumps, will unfortunately put additional pressure on the already stretched national grid particularly over these winter months.
So why does New Zealand not take more advantage of the abundant renewable energy from the natural sources its location offers?
In 2005 New Zealand generated 69% of its energy use from renewable sources, primarily hydro dams and geothermal, but it has a long way to go to harness power from the sun or wind which only made-up 1% of the renewable source total.
New Zealand's location in the Pacific Ocean is ideal to harness the prevailing westerly winds and the potential to develop wind farms is huge.
It has been identified that if the wind energy can be exploited fully, it can meet one third of NZ's growth in demand over the next 10 years.
New Zealand will have ten wind farms contributing 322 megawatts of power generation (enough to power 150 000 average households), by the end of this year, equivalent to the output of the recently completed gas-fired power-station at Huntly.
However, if the resource consent stage schemes are added, then a further 1 660 megawatts is possible – equivalent to the output of four carbon-emitting power-plants!
Unfortunately, many of the proposed schemes face stiff opposition from local communities and environmentalists, claiming turbines cause blots on the landscape, create noise pollution, and destroy wildlife's natural habitats, making it difficult to get projects off the ground before they have even started.
Despite the potential conflict, New Zealand needs more renewable electricity, and wind farm power can make a much larger impact than it has done so far.
The government must lead to identify suitable sites and provide an efficient process where hearings are fair, ensuring that any environmental loss is compensated with this much-needed sustainable power.
It raises some interesting points, so I'd thought I'd share it with you:
There has been saturation coverage of sustainable issues in every press article, television bulletin and the web in recent months.
Much of this coverage is devoted to saving energy, reducing carbon footprints and the promotion of ‘green’ issues which New Zealand can take a lead in, but could struggle on some.
Much of New Zealand shivers for three months through the winter and most of the housing stock remains poorly heated, inadequately insulated and badly ventilated.
This creates a living environment where New Zealand has some of the highest rates of respiratory diseases (asthma/bronchitis) in the ‘western world’ and contrary to reducing power, householders are being encouraged to ‘turn the heat-up’ as far as budgets will allow.
Having better-insulated houses incorporating efficient heating systems, along with a major shift to the use of heat pumps, will unfortunately put additional pressure on the already stretched national grid particularly over these winter months.
So why does New Zealand not take more advantage of the abundant renewable energy from the natural sources its location offers?
In 2005 New Zealand generated 69% of its energy use from renewable sources, primarily hydro dams and geothermal, but it has a long way to go to harness power from the sun or wind which only made-up 1% of the renewable source total.
New Zealand's location in the Pacific Ocean is ideal to harness the prevailing westerly winds and the potential to develop wind farms is huge.
It has been identified that if the wind energy can be exploited fully, it can meet one third of NZ's growth in demand over the next 10 years.
New Zealand will have ten wind farms contributing 322 megawatts of power generation (enough to power 150 000 average households), by the end of this year, equivalent to the output of the recently completed gas-fired power-station at Huntly.
However, if the resource consent stage schemes are added, then a further 1 660 megawatts is possible – equivalent to the output of four carbon-emitting power-plants!
Unfortunately, many of the proposed schemes face stiff opposition from local communities and environmentalists, claiming turbines cause blots on the landscape, create noise pollution, and destroy wildlife's natural habitats, making it difficult to get projects off the ground before they have even started.
Despite the potential conflict, New Zealand needs more renewable electricity, and wind farm power can make a much larger impact than it has done so far.
The government must lead to identify suitable sites and provide an efficient process where hearings are fair, ensuring that any environmental loss is compensated with this much-needed sustainable power.