Energy in New Zealand
Encyclopedia
Despite a comparatively small population and abundant natural resources, New Zealand
is a net importer of energy, in the form of oil products. Approximately 35% of primary energy
is from renewable source
s. Energy consumption is 4.53 TOE per capita, just less than the OECD average of 4.67. New Zealand is one of 13 OECD countries that does not operate nuclear power stations.
Since 1995, the trend in energy use has slightly decoupled from GDP, indicating an increasing efficiency or a shift to economic activity that has a lower dependence on energy supplies.
Total primary energy is indigenous production, plus imports, less exports and international transport.
, a government owned corporation.
, Maui
, Pohokura
and Kupe
. Exploration for oil and gas reserves includes the Great South Basin
and offshore areas near Canterbury and Gisborne.
and geothermal power
. This is expected to increase over the next 20 years, with wind energy
making up much of that increase.
In terms of energy intensity
, New Zealand is just a little lower than the global average.
sources makes New Zealand one of the most sustainable countries in terms of energy generation. However, electricity demand is also still growing, by an average of 2.1% per year since 1974 and 0.2% over 2004–2009.
of energy use in New Zealand. Exploration and production of fossil fuels comes under Crown Minerals, a division of the Ministry of Economic Development. The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority
is responsible for preparing a statutory national energy efficiency and conservation strategy for approval by the administering Minister.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
is a net importer of energy, in the form of oil products. Approximately 35% of primary energy
Primary energy
Primary energy is an energy form found in nature that has not been subjected to any conversion or transformation process. It is energy contained in raw fuels, and other forms of energy received as input to a system...
is from renewable source
Renewable energy
Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
s. Energy consumption is 4.53 TOE per capita, just less than the OECD average of 4.67. New Zealand is one of 13 OECD countries that does not operate nuclear power stations.
Since 1995, the trend in energy use has slightly decoupled from GDP, indicating an increasing efficiency or a shift to economic activity that has a lower dependence on energy supplies.
Energy supply
| Oil | Gas | Coal | Renewables | Waste heat | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 277.3 | 161.0 | 63.1 | 273.7 | 1.5 | 776.6 |
Total primary energy is indigenous production, plus imports, less exports and international transport.
Coal
Coal is produced from four underground and 21 opencast mines. Over 80% of New Zealand's coal reserves are contained in Southland lignite deposits. Most coal production is by Solid EnergySolid Energy
Solid Energy is the largest coal mining company in New Zealand and is a state owned enterprise of the New Zealand Government.The company was formed from the former government department State Coal Mines. It was then established as a state owned enterprise called Coal Corporation in 1987, and...
, a government owned corporation.
Oil and gas
Oil and gas is produced from 21 petroleum licenses / permits, all in the Taranaki basin. The most important fields are KapuniKapuni
Kapuni is a small hydrocarbons field and drilling site in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located within a dairy farming area in Taranaki, south of New Plymouth....
, Maui
Maui gas field
The Maui natural gas field is the largest gas, natural gas condensate and oil field in New Zealand, producing nearly three-quarters of the country's hydrocarbons, as well as providing energy for electricity generation. It is located in the Tasman Sea, 35 km off the coast of Taranaki and to the...
, Pohokura
Pohokura field
The Pohokura field is an oil and gas field located 4 km offshore of north Taranaki in New Zealand, in approximately 30 m of water. The field was discovered in 2000 by Fletcher Challenge and has total estimated reserves of 996 Bcf of gas and 59.4 mmbbls of condensate.The field has 6 offshore and 3...
and Kupe
Kupe field
The Kupe natural gas field is located in the Tasman Sea, 30 km off the coast of the town of Manaia in Taranaki, New Zealand. The field was discovered in 1986 and is located in 35 metres of water...
. Exploration for oil and gas reserves includes the Great South Basin
Great South Basin
The Great South Basin is an area of mainly sea to the south of the South Island of New Zealand.Starting in the 1960s, the area was explored and drilled for oil deposits by various minerals companies, mostly international, but by 1984 all of these companies had left empty-handed...
and offshore areas near Canterbury and Gisborne.
Renewable energy
Approximately 35% of primary energy is from renewable energy sources. Approximately 70% of electricity comes from renewable energy, primarily hydropowerHydroelectric power in New Zealand
Hydroelectric power in New Zealand is the largest source of electricity generation in New Zealand.-History:Reefton was the first town with a reticulated public electricity supply from a significant hydroelectric plant after the commissioning of the Reefton Power Station in 1888.During the next...
and geothermal power
Geothermal power in New Zealand
Geothermal power in New Zealand is a small but significant part of the energy generation capacity of the country, providing approximately 10% of the country's electricity with installed capacity of over 700 MW...
. This is expected to increase over the next 20 years, with wind energy
Wind power in New Zealand
Wind power in New Zealand generates a small but rapidly growing proportion of the country's electricity, as the country makes increasing use of its outstanding wind resources...
making up much of that increase.
Energy consumption
| Coal | Oil | Gas | Renewables | Electricity | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18.4 | 252.0 | 57.9 | 61.0 | 140.0 | 529.3 |
International comparisons
| International consumption of energy (calendar year 2008) |
Oil products (tonnes per person) |
Gas (m3 per person) |
Electricity (kWh per person) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | 1.17 | 580 | 2,326 |
| Turkey | 0.45 | 494 | 2,599 |
| Portugal | 1.70 | 475 | 5,165 |
| UK | 1.90 | 1,693 | 6,576 |
| Germany | 1.87 | 1,144 | 7,446 |
| France | 1.82 | 759 | 8,196 |
| New Zealand | 2.04 | 981 | 10,200 |
| Australia | 2.49 | 1,531 | 12,570 |
| Japan | 2.31 | 806 | 8,533 |
| Norway | 4.41 | 1,545 | 27,682 |
| Canada | 3.88 | 3,014 | 17,998 |
| USA | 4.29 | 2,208 | 14,355 |
In terms of energy intensity
Energy intensity
]Energy intensity is a measure of the energy efficiency of a nation's economy. It is calculated as units of energy per unit of GDP.* High energy intensities indicate a high price or cost of converting energy into GDP....
, New Zealand is just a little lower than the global average.
Electrical energy
Electrical energy in New Zealand is mainly derived from renewable energy sources such as from hydropower, geothermal power and increasingly wind energy. The large share of renewable energyRenewable energy
Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
sources makes New Zealand one of the most sustainable countries in terms of energy generation. However, electricity demand is also still growing, by an average of 2.1% per year since 1974 and 0.2% over 2004–2009.
Governmental jurisdiction
The Ministry of Economic Development is responsible for economic issues surrounding energy use and the Ministry for the Environment addresses the environmental impactEnvironmental degradation
Environmental degradation is the deterioration of the environment through depletion of resources such as air, water and soil; the destruction of ecosystems and the extinction of wildlife...
of energy use in New Zealand. Exploration and production of fossil fuels comes under Crown Minerals, a division of the Ministry of Economic Development. The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority is a New Zealand government/crown agency responsible for promoting energy efficiency and conservation....
is responsible for preparing a statutory national energy efficiency and conservation strategy for approval by the administering Minister.
See also
- Economy of New ZealandEconomy of New ZealandNew Zealand has a market economy which is greatly dependent on international trade, mainly with Australia, the European Union, the United States, China, and Japan. It has only small manufacturing and high-tech sectors, being strongly focused on tourism and primary industries like agriculture...
- Hydroelectric power in New ZealandHydroelectric power in New ZealandHydroelectric power in New Zealand is the largest source of electricity generation in New Zealand.-History:Reefton was the first town with a reticulated public electricity supply from a significant hydroelectric plant after the commissioning of the Reefton Power Station in 1888.During the next...
- Climate change in New ZealandClimate change in New ZealandClimate change in New Zealand, in the sense of anthropogenic global warming during the 20th century, is apparent in the instrumental record, in New Zealand's participation in international treaties and in social and political debates. Climate change is being responded to in a variety of ways by...
External links
- Energy and Resources page at the Ministry of Economic Development
- New Zealand Energy Strategy at the Ministry of Economic Development
- Ministry for the Environment – energy issues
- Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority
- Energywise – a consumer guide for energy conservation operated by Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority
- New Zealand Energy Sector Excellence Awards – Annual New Zealand Energy Sector Excellence Awards