Opportunities and
Challenges for New
Zealand's Energy Future
Rosalind Archer
Energy Research Theme Leader
Faculty of Engineering
University of Auckland
Source: United Nations Environment Program, Global Trends in Sustainable Energy
Investment, 2011
International Context
Source: United Nations Environment Program, Global Trends in Sustainable Energy
Investment, 2011
International Statistics
Investment in new renewable capacity (annual)
Renewables power capacity (existing)
Hydropower capacity (existing)
Wind power capacity (existing)
Solar PV capacity (grid-connected)
Solar hot water capacity (existing)
Ethanol production (annual)
2008
130
1,140
950
121
16
130
67
2009
160
1,230
980
159
23
160
76
2010
211 billion USD
1,320 GWe
1,010 GWe
198 GWe
40 GWe
185 GWth
86 billion liters
Countries with policy targets
for renewable energy use
79
89
98
Source: Wikipedia
NZ Electricity
Source: NZ Energy Quarterly, Ministry of Economic Development, June 2011
NZ Electricity Projections
Source: NZ Energy Outlook, Ministry of Economic Development, 2010
NZ Oil
Source: NZ Energy Quarterly, Ministry of Economic Development, June 2011
NZ CO2 Emissions
Source: NZ Energy Quarterly, Ministry of Economic Development, June 2011
Fossil Fuels: Challenge
• Domestic oil production in decline. Oil price?
• Energy Outlook assumes 120 PJ per annum new gas
production from 2017 to 2030. Exploration?
Gas Hydrates
• GNS estimates NZ could have 5 to 50 tcf of methane
recoverable from hydrate deposits (Maui = 4 tcf)
• Recovery process? Economics?
Coal
• Can natural gas be produced practically and
economically from coal-beds in NZ?
• Underground coal gassification being trialled
by Solid Energy.
Image: www.gwv.co.za
Carbon Dioxide Sequestration
• Can carbon dioxide be safely and effectively stored
underground?
• Subsurface pore space that is the most well understood
is depleted oil & gas reservoirs, deep saline aquifers
have large volumes.
• Public perception/confidence?
Geothermal Energy
• How did our deep
geothermal systems
evolve, how should they
be best produced?
• Projects planned to
produce deeper resources
and use binary plants to
produce lower
temperature resources.
Image: Courtesy of Prof. Mike O’Sullivan
Enhanced Geothermal – Hot Dry Rock
• Cold water injected
into one well and
produced as hot
water via another
well.
• Likely to require
fracturing.
Image: http://esd.lbl.gov/IMG/research/projects/induced_seismicity/egs/Geothermal-Plant.gif
Wind Energy – Wind Farm Design
• Novel wind speed monitoring devices.
• How should wind flow be modelled in complex
terrain?
• Where should turbines be placed (optimally)?
Image: Courtesy of Stuart Donovan
Wind Energy - Challenges
• Offshore wind developments?
• Environment court/RMA approvals?
Image: http://www.windenergyplanning.com/european-offshore-wind-supergrid-deal-signed/
Wind - Economics
• NZ Wind Energy Association believes wind can
generate 20% of our electricity.
• Economic modelling by Infometrics suggests
development of more wind energy could mean
every New Zealander would be $390 better off
per annum by 2030 (assuming an increase in
wholesale gas prices and a carbon price of
$50/tonne).
Tidal/Wave Energy
• Crest Energy’s Kaipara project was approved in early
2011.
• Movement of 8,000 million cubic metres of water through
the harbour will be harnessed to generate 200 kW
electricity.
• IRL marine generator being tested off Wellington.
• Will this lead to more development?
Image: Pelarmis device, Wikipedia
Biofuels/Bioenergy
• Novel process developed to react vaporised tallow
with methanol to create bio-diesel.
• By 2040, 30% of NZ’s transport fuels could be
derived from Biomass (BERL, August 2011) –
largest fraction from woody biomass and short
rotation crops.
Green Energy Systems
• Use of an electric vehicle, which already has a
powerful battery, not just for mobility but also
to supplement existing household energy
storage as appropriate.
Likely to help
increase the
penetration of wind
energy into the grid.
Image: Courtesy of Dr Udaya Madawala
Inductive Power Transfer
• Wireless transfer of electric charge applicable
to electric vehicle charging.
• Toll lanes to charge vehicles on motorways?
• Parking spaces that charge your vehicle while
you park?
Image: www.haloipt.com
Green Computing
• Data centres consume 0.2% of world
electricity and emissions could quadruple by
2020 (McKinsey)
• Optimisation models for automatic design of
clustered data storage systems, leading to
reduced energy consumption.
Phase Change Materials
• How can we use phase change materials to
improve energy efficiency?
Image: Courtesy of Prof. Mohammed Farid
Closing Remarks
• Technology only one factor in advances in
renewable.
• Policy, regulation, and social acceptance also
very important.