New Zealand: Energy
Hydro schemes on wrong side of the island, says report
14 Oct 2008
A long-range rainfall forecast has ignited a controversy that the bulk of the South Island hydro capacity was built on the wrong side of the Southern Alps.
Europe stand likely to boost carbon capture technology
10 Oct 2008
Carbon-capture technology research could receive a boost from the European Parliament environment committee decision to back legislation compelling power companies to pay for their emissions from 2013.
Key players ponder Nat's 'unusual' R&D decision
10 Oct 2008
Key players in New Zealand’s renewable energy sector are stoic - if somewhat bemused - in the face of National’s announcement that it intends dropping the 15 per cent tax-credit for research and development if it wins power.
Buffett makes a bid for power - that's our power
10 Oct 2008
American billionaire-investor Warren Buffett, through holdings in the Wells Fargo Bank, is on the verge of assuming beneficial control of Transpower’s South Island high-voltage electricity grid.
NZ in danger of missing clean-tech boom, warns expert
7 Oct 2008
New Zealand is in danger of missing the clean-energy economic boom, says the man behind the country’s first energy innovation forum for investors.
We can have cheaper street lights, says promoter
7 Oct 2008
Replacing street lighting with low-energy alternatives at no extra cost to councils or developers is possible under a new sustainable funding model, says the promoter.
Power users unite in push for electricity reform
3 Oct 2008
Electricity users across the economy are joining forces to push the Government into the biggest review of our electricity system since the 1996 deregulation.
Wind power poser: Low lakes mean low wind speeds
3 Oct 2008
The same weather conditions that cause hydro-generation lakes to go dry will also stop some wind farms generating power, according to a new report.
Asian coal demand gives longer life to Stockton mine
3 Oct 2008
Solid Energy’s Stockton coal mine will operate for at least another 20 years.
Huntly helps Genesis to $10m profit increase
3 Oct 2008
Electricity and gas supplier Genesis Energy has announced a $10 million rise in annual profit - due largely to the fact that low South Island hydro lake levels have meant that the Huntly thermal power station has been running.
'Hard year' nearly halves Meridian profit
3 Oct 2008
State-owned Meridian energy’s profits have almost halved.
Houston company buy-in will boost Contact Energy coal
3 Oct 2008
Houston-based Conoco Phillips has filled the investment vacuum in Origin Energy, left by British Gas, itself a subsidiary of British holding company Centrica.
Hydrogen economy tumbles down the NZ wish-list
26 Sep 2008
A government-sponsored research project into a hydrogen economy for New Zealand shows signs of having been sandbagged by political parties' moves to suppress debate on coal.
Crest appeal one of four over tidal power scheme
19 Sep 2008
Four appeals have been lodged against the Northland Regional Council's decision to grant resource consents for New Zealand's first tidal energy project – including one from the developer itself.
Kaipara hapu lodges appeal against Crest tidal project
16 Sep 2008
Northern Kaipara tribal group Te Uri o Hau has appealed the Northland Regional Council’s recommendation that Crest Energy be given resource consent for its Kaipara Harbour tidal energy project.
Contact wins consent for Taupo geothermal station
16 Sep 2008
Contact Energy has been granted resource consent for a 220 megawatt Te Mihi geothermal power station near Taupo.
NZ scientists unrecognised for work behind the scenes
9 Sep 2008
Political parties are so anxious to play down some energy issues that valuable work by the government’s own energy and scientific agencies is receiving little recognition
US speculation regulator includes NZ among targets
5 Sep 2008
The American Commodity Futures Trading Commission is targeting United Kingdom and Commonwealth traders involved in no-limit speculative oil trades.
Mobil closes in on carbon dioxide breathrough
2 Sep 2008
Mobil is close to a technology which will literally absorb the problem of greenhouse gases from natural gas.
Wholesale electricity index up 9.79 points on a year ago
2 Sep 2008
The M-Co Wholesale Electricity Price Index for August was up 9.79 points on a year ago.
Wind energy developers keep keen eye on new approvals process
29 Aug 2008
The wind energy sector is waiting with bated breath to see how the new “calling in” approvals process works.
MAF excited at finding cellulose perennial solution to biofuels
29 Aug 2008
A MAF report indicates that using 12 per cent of the nation’s pastoral land to grow herbaceous feed-stocks for bioethanol production would provide equivalent energy to that “derived from current total petrol usage.”
National goes quiet on coal-fired power
26 Aug 2008
The National Party is tamping down any discussion on the value of coal-fired power, in spite of coal comprising up 95 per cent of recoverable fuel reserves and in sufficient volume to last for 1500 years.
Northland gives nod to Kaipara tidal energy project
22 Aug 2008
Crest Energy has passed a major hurdle in its bid to set up a tidal energy plant at the mouth of the Kaipara Harbour.
Genesis and Rodney council reach understanding on wastewater
22 Aug 2008
Genesis Energy and the Rodney District Council have taken joint plans to build a new wastewater plant for Helensville a step further with the signing of a memorandum of understanding - despite allegations that the power giant is buying community support for it's proposed power station.
Niwa scientists take serious look at algae for biofuel
22 Aug 2008
The sudden falling-from-grace of biofuels because of links to food shortages and food-price rises has intensified research into local algae sources by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research.
Wind-turbine pioneer sceptical about National policy
12 Aug 2008
New Zealand’s major wind turbine-manufacturing company says it doubts a National government would support the wind-energy sector.
Nats to reveal energy policy this week
12 Aug 2008
The National Party will release its energy policy on Thursday, spokesman Gerry Brownlee confirmed to Carbon News yesterday.
Council delays decision on Kaipara tidal-power station
12 Aug 2008
The Northland Regional Council says it will announce its decision on Crest Energy’s tidal-energy resource consent application next week.
Caygill, Cayford new members on EECA
12 Aug 2008
Energy Minister David Parker has announced three appointments to the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority Board.
Nuclear power definitely not an option: Greens
12 Aug 2008
Green Party Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons describes Matthew Hooten as ‘indulging in some wishful thinking’ in the Sunday Star Times this week.
Pike River deal trebles forecast revenues for first coal production
8 Aug 2008
Pike River Coal, due to come on-stream later this year, appears to have secured a contract that trebles the per-tonne revenues anticipated in last year’s prospectus.
Supreme Court still quiet on Rodney gas power station
8 Aug 2008
Greenpeace and Genesis Energy are still waiting on the Supreme Court ruling on the proposed Kaukapakapa gas-fired power station - more than two months after the issue went before the court.
Crest expects Kaipara tidal power decision next week
8 Aug 2008
Crest Energy could know by Tuesday whether it has the go-ahead for its Kaipara tidal energy scheme.
Coal-seam gas exploration operations to begin
8 Aug 2008
L&M Petroleum is pleased to announce that it has entered into a contract with Washingtons Exploration Limited’s to use its Rig #8 to drill the first three coal seam gas (CSG) wells to be drilled in the Company’s 2008 CSG exploration programme.
Unhappy Argent questions future of NZ biodiesel industry
5 Aug 2008
Argent Energy, which last week announced it is pulling out of plans to invest $100 million in biodiesel in New Zealand, is questioning the future of the industry.
'Too busy' Key suddenly finds time to meet power station opponents
5 Aug 2008
National Party leader John Key has now found time in his diary to meet opponents of Genesis Energy’s proposed gas-fired power station near Helensville as the community splits over allegations that the generator is buying local support.
Tiny turbines to power Antarctic science station
5 Aug 2008
Wind turbine maker Proven Energy has won the contract to supply eight of its small six-kilowatt turbines for Belgium’s Princess Elisabeth Antarctic research station.
Biofuels player pulls $100m plug on New Zealand plant
1 Aug 2008
A British biofuels company is pulling its $100-million investment out of New Zealand, blaming the Government’s Biofuels Bill.
ANALYSIS: Show faith in our emerging biofuels industry
1 Aug 2008
Today’s news that UK-based Argent Energy is pulling out of New Zealand because of what it sees as the distorted biofuels market which the Biofuels Bill has failed to address should sound large alarm bells in Government circles – but will anyone be listening?
National not opposing Helensville gas-fired power station plan
1 Aug 2008
The National Party says that it is “not intrinsically opposed” to Genesis Energy’s proposed power station in party leader John Key's Helensville electorate.
TrustPower rides rocky RMA road to win Mahinerangi approval
1 Aug 2008
The Environment Court’s interim decision to approve TrustPower’s proposed Mahinerangi windfarm in Otago brings the first stage of building one step closer - but the company remains frustrated by RMA snarl-ups.
Government reopens marine energy chequebook
1 Aug 2008
The second round of Government funding for marine energy development is open.
Millions on research could mean billions in earnings
29 Jul 2008
Research into renewable energy is booming – and could lead to multi-billion-dollar earnings if New Zealanders can get their products to the market first.
Coal, wind, waves - the hunt is on for hydrogen energy
25 Jul 2008
Research is under way in New Zealand to produce hydrogen energy from coal, wind and biomass – and maybe even waves.
Energy authority cock-a-hoop over Tegel heat recovery success
25 Jul 2008
The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority is using Tegel Foods as a reference site for the efficiency of its own carbon dioxide emissions reduction incentive scheme.
Goldsmith organisation condemns plans for importing biofuels into NZ
25 Jul 2008
The Pacific Institute of Resource Management, headquartered in Wellington, and which has London-based environmentalist Edward Goldsmith as a director, believes that in importing biofuels into New Zealand will revert to the plantations and indentured labour era.
Neptune in turbine talks over Cook Strait tidal energy plans
22 Jul 2008
New Zealand marine energy pioneer Neptune Power is in negotiations with the Newcastle-on-Tyne-based manufacturer of its prototype turbine about forming a tidal energy turbine company.
Meridian building windfarms in Australia and Antarctica
22 Jul 2008
Meridian Energy is spreading its wind farm expertise offshore – taking a 50 per cent holding in the Southern Hemisphere’s largest wind farm, being built in Australia, and working on projects in Antarctica.
Contact plans wind farm for Southern Hawke's Bay
22 Jul 2008
Contact Energy has launched plans for a $500 million, 65-turbine, 177 megawatt wind farm near Dannevirke.
Govt slammed for weakening methane target
Mon 15 Dec 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams The Government has pushed through legislation under urgency to almost halve New Zealand’s 2050 methane target – a move Opposition parties say disregards scientific advice, breaks the country’s hard-won political consensus on climate action, and shifts the burden of higher warming and higher future costs onto the next generation.
Govt warned that scrapping ag emission pricing comes with risks
Thu 11 Dec 2025
By Liz Kivi | The Government’s move to halt plans for agricultural emissions pricing without replacing it with any other action will leave New Zealand facing a bigger gap to meet its third emissions budget, Environment ministry officials have warned.
Transport dominates NZ’s rising consumer emissions
Wed 10 Dec 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Transport pollution was the biggest contributor to an increase in New Zealand’s consumption-based emissions in 2023, with emissions from household travel up 12%, and consumption-based emissions totalling 58.3 million tonnes – up 1.6% from the previous year.
NZ could become ‘dumping ground’ for dirty vehicles: Commissioner
Today 11:15am
By Liz Kivi | Simon Upton, Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, has warned the Government that its changes to the clean car standard could turn the country into a dumping ground for high emitting cars, making future emissions budgets harder to achieve.
Uncertainty eroding confidence in forestry sector
5 Dec 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Warnings are mounting that tree planting is set to plunge to “very close to zero”, as new Ministry for Primary Industries data shows ETS registration applications falling sharply as confidence in forestry declines.
Investors must support positive climate-tech
28 Nov 2025
OPINION: We need better leadership than the current ‘climate opportunism’ that is rife in the Beehive, and we need to back a marketplace that will make it happen, writes Rob Campbell.
