OES Annual Report 2012 - Ocean Energy Systems

83
04 / COUNTRY REPORTS
NEW ZEALAND
John Huckerby
Aotearoa Wave and Tidal Energy Association
INTRODUCTION
Although there has not been a high level of public activity this year, the year was notable for three reasons:
1. The first full deployment of Wave Energy Technology – New Zealand’s ½-scale ‘MEDF’ device at Moa
Point in Wellington (27 May – 17 June 2012)
2. The first full deployment of Wave Energy Technology – New Zealand’s ½-scale ‘US’ device at the Northwest
National Marine Renewable Energy Centre’s test site of Yaquina Head, Oregon (23 August – 5 October 2012)
3. The award of a NZ$ 940,000 grant over 3 years from the Marsden Fund to Dr. Ross Vennell of Otago
University for tidal energy research
OCEAN ENERGY POLICY
Strategy and National Targets
The current Government introduced its NZ Energy Strategy in August 2011, which has an aspirational
target of 90% renewable energy generation by 2025, supported by the National Policy Statement on
Renewable Electricity Generation, which came into effect in May 2011. The Government has also set a
greenhouse emissions reductions target to reduce emissions by 50% from 1990 levels by 2050. Although
the NZ Government was a signatory of the Kyoto Protocol, it has recently announced that it will not sign up
to a second phase of the Kyoto Protocol.
There are no market stimulation incentives or other support for renewables, including marine energy.
Main Public Funding Mechanisms
The 4-year Marine Energy Deployment Fund (2008 - 2011) funded six deployment projects, of which 4 were
wave projects and 2 were tidal current projects. Three of the projects are still active and eligible to receive funds.
Apart from MEDF, principal public funding is for R&D through either direct Government funding or other
public funding sources. Two Government-funded R&D projects ended in September 2012 but subsequently
Dr. Ross Vennell at Otago University was awarded $940,000 from the Marsden Fund to research tidal array
capacity and arrangements.
Relevant Legislation and Regulation
Consents to undertake marine energy projects in the Coastal Marine Area (to the 12 nautical mile limit) are
granted under the Resource Management Act 1991 and its amendments. This is environmental legislation.
There is no allocation regime for marine energy.
The first marine energy consents in New Zealand were activated by WET-NZ in May 2012.
However, there have been some changes to consenting practices in New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic
Zone (beyond the 12 nautical mile limit) during 2012.The Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf
(Environmental Effects) Act 2012 (the EEZ Act) became law on 3 September 2012. The EEZ Act will come into
force when the regulations are in place or no later than 1 July 2014. These new regulations specifically cover
new uses of the ocean, not covered by existing environmental legislation. However, the new regulations are
unlikely to affect marine energy projects in the near future, as projects are likely to be closer to shore. There
have been no other significant updates to legislation or regulation during 2012.