New Zealand: Energy
Mighty River Power committed to new geothermal development
1 Apr 2008
Mighty River Power Chair Carole Durbin has announced her board's commitment to support a new $450 million geothermal development proposed at Rotokawa, north of Taupo, with the final decision subject to completion of procurement contracts.
Skids under government’s bio-fuels mandate
31 Mar 2008
It looks increasingly likely that the Labour-led Government’s mandate for petrol and diesel to contain 3.4% of bio-ingredients from July 1 will be shelved – possibly for as long as it takes to develop second-generation bio-fuels.
Parker pooh-poohs 50% power hike report
31 Mar 2008
Self-interest is behind warnings that the Government’s 10-year ban on the construction of thermal power stations will hike power prices 50%, Climate Change Minister David Parker says.
Bio-fuels threaten food catastrophe
31 Mar 2008
The world is now just two years away from a food catastrophe caused in part by diversion of land-use to feed cars rather than people, according to a leading Indian academic.
Environmental protests knock millions off Solid Energy's bottom line
26 Mar 2008
In a prescient remark, given Greenpeace’s blockage of the bulk coal carrier Hellenic Sea in Lyttelton a few hours later, Solid Energy chairman John Palmer has warned that customer uncertainty over the ETS is “raising the risk profile for the long-term security of Solid Energy’s domestic coal supply business.”
Meridian half-year profit $94 million - $175 million special dividend
26 Mar 2008
Meridian has reported a half-year after-tax result of $93.7 million for the six months ended 31 December 2007, compared with a restated profit of $116.6 million for the same period a year earlier.
Half year loss but Solid Energy forecasts profitability for full year
26 Mar 2008
Energy producer, Solid Energy New Zealand Ltd, has produced a net loss after tax of $2.7 million for the half year ended 31 December 2007.
Huntly sends electricity emissions into nosedive
20 Mar 2008
Genesis Energy’s new e3p combined-cycle gas turbine at Huntly slashed electricity generation emissions 10% in the 2007 December quarter compared to the same period in 2006, even though total thermal generation jumped 17%.
Queensland drives net solar cost down to under $1500 per household
19 Mar 2008
The announcement follows the inaugural meeting of the Premier’s Council on Climate Change, addressed by one of Australia’s greatest scientific minds, Dr Tim Flannery.
Government’s bio-fuel bubble fit to burst
17 Mar 2008
The bio-fuels bubble has exploded in the face of the Labour Government’s demand that they be incorporated into petrol and diesel mixes, according to the New Zealand chief executive of global energy giant British Petroleum (BP), Peter Griffiths.
Two marine energy fund applications
17 Mar 2008
Two applications have been received for the first $2m tranche of government grants under the Marine Energy Deployment Fund (MEDF).
EU pumps up minimum taxes for diesel to equal petrol
17 Mar 2008
Members of the European Parliament have decided the current EU-wide minimum rate of tax on diesel should be increased to match the current minimum rate for unleaded petrol, but no further.
Right House scores DOC carbon neutral contract
12 Mar 2008
Department Meridian Energy subsidiary Right House has secured the contract to help the Department of Conservation move ot its 2012 carbon neutral goal.
Half of inter-island pole 1 power link back before winter
12 Mar 2008
Transpower New Zealand says the mitigations needed to return a half pole 1 of the HVDC inter island link to service will be completed prior to winter.
Poll: National electricity grid greatly worries New Zealanders
12 Mar 2008
Eight out of 10 New Zealanders believe the national electricity grid needs upgrading. Some 42% think an upgrade is urgent, according to the results of a major new national poll by ShapeNZ.
Legal experts sue Climate minister over ‘glaring holes’ in climate plan
Wed 11 Jun 2025
By Liz Kivi | Legal experts are taking the government to court over its Emissions Reduction Plan, alleging it fails to fulfil basic requirements of the law – with one of the arguments focussing on an over-reliance on tree-planting.
Flurry of govt announcements at Fieldays
Thu 12 Jun 2025
The government has come up with a solar energy package for farms, a new grass-fed certification scheme for meat and dairy, and a supplier agreement for carpets in new state homes - all part of the annual flurry of politicians’ Fieldays announcements.
Tech alone won’t save us, warns climate expert
4 Jun 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Technology alone won't be enough to reach net zero emissions, environmental psychologist Lorraine Whitmarsh told the Carbon and Energy Professionals conference in Auckland last week.
“It’s not the car – it’s how we move” – EECA
3 Jun 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams| New Zealand’s transport emissions conversation has focused heavily on electric vehicles – but Richard Briggs, group manager, delivery and partnerships at the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, says we’re asking the wrong question.
Forestry consents and relaxed rules in erosion zones sow seeds of future disaster
Fri 13 Jun 2025
OPINION: The government’s move to restrict exotic forestry on our best food-growing soils will push even more forestry investment onto high erosion risk land on the East Coast, with the worst land becoming the only land left for the most intensive and destructive land use, writes Manu Caddie
Kiwi cleantech companies on the world stage
27 May 2025
Six New Zealand 'cleantech' companies were in Singapore earlier this month, along with a venture capital firm and the MacDiarmid Institute, to meet investors and multinational partners.
