WSHPDR_2013_Final_Report-updated_version

5.2.2 New Zealand
Niels Nielsen, International Energy Agency
Hydropower Implementing Agreement
Key Facts
Population 4,327,944 1
Area 267,710 km 2
Climate Mild and temperate maritime climate,
with sharp regional contrasts. Mean
annual temperatures ranging from 10°C
in the south to 16°C in the north.
Conditions vary sharply across regions
from extremely wet on the West Coast of
the South Island to almost semi-arid in
Central Otago and the Mackenzie Basin
of inland Canterbury and to subtropical
in Northland.
Topography Two main landmasses and numerous
smaller islands; Predominately
mountainous with some large coastal
plains
Rain
Pattern
Electricity sector overview
Hydro
Gas
Geothermal
Coal
Wind
Bioenergy
Other thermal
Most areas have between 600 and 1,600
mm of rainfall, spread throughout the
year with a dry period during summer.
Over the northern and central areas
more rainfall is recorded in winter than
in summer, whereas for much of the
southern part of New Zealand, winter is
the season of least precipitation (rain
and snow). 2
18.4%
13.4%
4.7%
4.5%
1.3%
0.1%
57.6%
0% 20% 40% 60%
Figure 1 Electricity generation in New Zealand
Source: Ministry of Economic Development 3
Note: Data from 2011.
In 2011, 43,138 GWh of electricity were produced in
New Zealand, with a total installed capacity of 9,751
MW. 3 New Zealand's wholesale market for electricity
operates under the Electricity Industry Participation
Code, and is overseen by the market regulator. Since
1987, a step-by-step industry reform has led to the
separation of the monopoly elements of generation,
transmission, distribution and retailing, to create
competitive markets in energy generation and
electricity retailing, while imposing regulation on the
natural monopolies of transmission and distribution. -
Hydropower accounts for nearly 58 per cent of
national electricity generation (figure 1). Most of New
Zealand’s hydropower is generated on the South
Island, and all geothermal generation is located on the
North Island.
Small hydropower sector overview and potential
The New Zealand Energy Efficiency and Conservation
Authority (EECA) has classified small hydropower to
be in the capacity range of 1 MW to 10 MW, minihydro
in the range of 10 kW to 1 MW and micro
hydropower is usually less than 10 kW and used for
domestic applications. Small hydropower (under 10
MW) contributed 11.2 per cent to overall electricity
production of New Zealand in 2011. 3
SHP installed
capacity
SHP potential
138 MW
0 250 500 750
760 MW
Figure 2 Small hydropower capacities in New Zealand
In 2012, the average small hydropower plant in New
Zealand was over 50 years old. This is calculated based
on data from the New Zealand Electric Authority.
However, it is not known which plants have been
renovated or upgraded. 4
The installed small hydropower capacity is about 140
MW, with a typical annual electricity generation of
638 GWh. This is based on the summarized
information from the New Zealand Electricity
Authority on 55 small hydropower plants, the
information of another four plants was not available. 4
In 2007 the number of domestic grid integrated microhydropower
facilities in New Zealand was unknown,
but understood to be low. Most applications of microhydropower
provided a cost-effective alternative to
grid extension in the case of remote off-grid
applications or other remote power options (such as
diesel generators). In 2007, there were at least 10
suppliers of micro hydropower generators and related
equipment active in New Zealand. 5
Several reports and studies contain information on
hydropower projects, including small hydropower. 6
The EECA (2004) commissioned a series of studies to
assess the renewable energy potential in different
regions across New Zealand, including hydropower.
Regional summaries of existing and potential small
hydropower projects are listed in table below. It
shows a summary of the regional assessments, with a
total small hydropower potential of 622 MW,
excluding sites in conservation zones. Environmental
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