Geothermal Asks for a Bigger Share

Proponents for Geothermal Energy are asking that New Zealand get on with conversion to this renewable energy source.

Current evidence shows that some fields have been degraded over time, but with best practice in place, geothermal can even be considered a sustainable energy source.

Geothermal also generates less pollutants that other energy options. The New Zealand Geothermal Association has published these emissions facts and figures: “CO2 emissions for geothermal power plants are normally in the range of 10-400 g/kWh compared to 900-1000 g/kWh for oil and coal-fired plants or 400 g/kWh for gas-fired combined cycle plant. Atmospheric emissions from geothermal plants average only about 5% of the emissions from equivalent sized fossil fuel power plants.”

Currently, geothermal caters for 7% of Kiwi energy needs. This could be increased four-fold, or even higher, with enough support. As the Ministry of Economic Development explains, the industry is facing a number of barriers.

“Delays and uncertainties in the resource consent process and subsequent compliance costs have been identified as the biggest obstacles to investment.”

The total capacity from fields, mainly in the Taupo area, equate to 500MW. If all of New Zealand’s resources were tapped using the same methods as we see today, that would grow 4-times to 2,000MW. Additionally, if greater research and resource was available to improve the science of capturing geothermal energy, this could even grow to 3.000MW.

New Zealand has made significant in-roads in this area and should be doing more.

In the meantime, as always, let’s reduce, reduce, reduce. Switch off that light.

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Also, this from the Geothermal Association Newsletter:
Have you heard about the New Zealand Clean Energy Centre?

The New Zealand Clean Energy Centre has been established in Taupo with an interest in both geothermal and bio-energy developments.

Two projects currently being progressed by the NZCEC are:
· A geothermal heating system to serve Taupo Hospital, Liston Heights Residential Care Hospital, and Taupo Intermediate School. This project has drawn a significant investment from Energy for Industry, and represents the first significant steps into geothermal development by a Meridian-owned company
· An energy farming project in conjunction with Genesis Research involving the growing of Salix willow for the production of ethanol.