WSHPDR_2013_Final_Report-updated_version

Impact Assessments are required for small
hydropower plants.
Most viable mini-hydro opportunities with capacities
between 0.1 and 5 MW have been developed in the
country. A large number of projects are still
technically feasible yet not economically viable. It is
expected that a few projects could compete with the
wholesale price of electricity and may be subject to
resource consenting issues. 5
In addition, the EECA (2007) commissioned a businessas-usual
renewable uptake study with projections up
to 2030. This study forecasted that in the absence of
significant government policies and incentives,
installed capacity of mini-hydro will increase from 32
MW (15 plants) to over 50 MW. Total installed
capacity of micro-hydro will increase from 0.1 MW (50
plants to about 4 MW) Grid-connected domestic and
distribution-scale renewable energy (electricity)
systems in New Zealand have experienced limited
uptake to this date. Systems at the district level are
generating modest amounts of electricity and
domestic-scale renewable electricity is virtually nonexistent.
It is at the district level where most of the
significant gains are expected. 5
Table 1
Remaining small hydropower potential up to 10 MW
in New Zealand
(Megawatts)
Regional assessment
(Year)
Number
Remaining
potential
Auckland REA 2007 .. ..
Bay of Plenty REA 2007 12 11.07
Canterbury REA 2006 21 65.70
Hawke's Bay REA 2008 14 53.00
Manuwatu-Wanganui REA 2007 26 111.36
Marlborough District REA 2006 3 12.50
Northland REA 2006 13 35.25
Otago REA 2008 25 104.90
Taranaki REA 2006 7 24.20
Tasman REA 2006 1 0.25
Waikato REA 2006 9 22.60
Greater Wellington REA 2007 12 41.20
West Coast REA 2008 33 140.2
Total 176 622.23
Source: Author’s calculations based on New Zealand Electric
Authority 4
Note: Excludes conservation zones. REA – Renewable Energy
Assessment
renewable electricity system supporting the country’s
global competitiveness. It includes working on system
requirements of smaller-scale generation
technologies. 7
Barriers to small hydropower development
No governmental policy on small hydropower;
No government subsidies for small hydropower
developers;
Administrative barriers (long approval process);
High construction costs.
References
1. Central Intelligence Agency (2011). The World
Factbook. Available from
www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-worldfactbook/.
2. National Institute of Water and Atmospheric
Research (2012). Overview of New Zealand Climate.
Available from www.niwa.co.nz/education-andtraining/schools/resources/climate/overview.
3. Ministry of Economic Development (2012). New
Zealand Energy Data File 2012. Available from
www.med.govt.nz/sectors-industries/energy/pdfdocs-library/energy-data-andmodelling/publications/energy-datafile/energydatafile-2011.pdf.
4. New Zealand Electric Authority (2011). Data
summarized by author of country report.
5. Hydro Tasmania Consulting, Climate Managers and
McKenzie (2007). Grid connected domestic and small
scale renewables in New Zealand: BAU uptake
projections to 2030.
6. Sinclair Knight Merz (2008). Developing Small-Scale
Renewable Energy Projects in New Zealand. Auckland:
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority
7. Ministry of Economic Development (2011). New
Zealand Energy Strategy 2011-2021 and the New
Zealand Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy
2011-2016. Wellington, New Zealand.
Renewable energy policy
The New Zealand Energy Strategy 2011-2021 retains
the target of 90 per cent of electricity to be generated
from renewable energy sources by 2025. The
economic competitiveness of new renewable
electricity generation will be enhanced by a price on
carbon. The accompanying New Zealand Energy
Efficiency and Conservation Strategy 2011-2016
(NZEECS) consists of the objective of an efficient,
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