Geothermal power in New Zealand

In 2021, New Zealand generated a total of 45 TWh of electricity, with renewable energy sources contributing 81%, or 36 TWh. Among these, geothermal energy stood out by providing 19%. Over the period from 2005 to 2021, there has been a consistent increase in the share of renewable energy in electricity production. Specifically, the use of geothermal sources for generating electricity saw a substantial rise, growing by 165% during this period.

The exploration of New Zealand's geothermal fields has been very extensive, and by the 1980s, most fields were considered mapped, with 129 found, of which 14 are in the 70-140 °C range, 7 in the 140-220 °C range and 15 in the >220 °C range. Currently, some potential new geothermal fields are being surveyed that have no surface expression.

New Zealand's high-temperature geothermal fields are mostly concentrated around the Taupō Volcanic Zone (which also has most of the currently operating generation capacity),[http://www.nzgeothermal.org.nz/elec_geo.html Geothermal Energy and Electricity Generation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100602083437/http://www.nzgeothermal.org.nz/elec_geo.html |date=2010-06-02 }} (from the New Zealand Geothermal Association website. Accessed 2013-10-04.) in the central North Island, with another major field at Ngawha Springs in Northland. However, more systems (some of them potentially exploitable) are scattered all over the country, from the Hauraki Plains to the Bay of Plenty to numerous hot springs in the South Island, most of them associated with faults and other tectonic features.{{cite web| url=http://www.nzgeothermal.org.nz/nz_geo_fields.html| title=Geothermal Fields| publisher=New Zealand Geothermal Association| access-date=2 May 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100602083218/http://www.nzgeothermal.org.nz/nz_geo_fields.html| archive-date=2 June 2010| url-status=dead}}

Many applications of geothermal energy in New Zealand reinject the cooled steam / fluid back into the underground fields, to extend or infinitely use the fields as power sources.

Image:Wairakei Geothermal Power Plant.jpg geothermal power plant]]

Geothermal energy use in New Zealand is strongly tied to Wairakei, where the first geothermal plant was opened in 1958. At that time, it was only the second large-scale plant existing worldwide (the first being the Valle del Diavolo 'Devil's Valley' plant in Larderello, Italy opened in 1911).{{cite news| url=http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,901030616-457349,00.html| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208040722/http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,901030616-457349,00.html| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 8, 2007| title=Steaming Forward| publisher=Time| date=8 June 2003| access-date=19 June 2008}} Several new plants and efficiency-enhancing second-stage equipment have been added since, though there is also some loss of steam generation due to the decade-long drawdown. Some plants are therefore capped in steam extraction volumes to allow the fields to regenerate, and a percentage of the steam/water is reinjected.

The Mokai and Rotokawa geothermal plant was the first to come into operation via a resource consent applied for and issued under the Resource Management Act. The 5 years up until 2016 saw a number of new power stations completed. Kawarau 90MW, Nga Awa Purua 140MW, Ngatamariki 80MW and Te Mihi 140MW.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}}

For over six decades, geothermal energy has been a key component of New Zealand's electricity landscape, with the majority of its facilities situated in the Taupō Volcanic Zone. Looking ahead, it is projected that by 2030, the electricity generated from geothermal sources in New Zealand will reach approximately 10.3 terawatt-hours (TWh).

Considerable geothermal research expertise exists at New Zealand's Crown Research Institutes and universities. In particular, at GNS Science,{{cite web| url=https://www.gns.cri.nz/Home/Our-Science/Energy-Resources/Geothermal-Energy/Research| title=Geothermal Energy Research| access-date=15 October 2017| publisher=GNS Science }} Industrial Research Limited,{{cite web| url=http://www.irl.cri.nz/our-research/energy-power/energy-systems-modeling| title=Energy Systems Modeling| publisher=Industrial Research Limited| access-date=19 January 2010}} and the Geothermal Program at the University of Auckland. New Zealand is also one of the partner nations of the International Partnership for Energy development in Island Nations (EDIN). As part of EDIN,{{cite web |url=http://www.edinenergy.org/new_zealand.html |title=Energy Development in Island Nations: New Zealand |access-date=2 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091017051335/http://www.edinenergy.org/new_zealand.html |archive-date=17 October 2009 }} New Zealand is involved in international research projects to evaluate and increase geothermal power generation domestically as well as in 18 Pacific Island nations.Mackenzie, A. (2009). Island Escape. e.nz magazine, 10(4), 23-28.

;Geothermal Energy Act 1953

The Geothermal Energy Act 1953 was made redundant by the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA). The Geothermal Energy Act granted water rights, which have generally been replaced by RMA resource consents.[http://www.nzgeothermal.org.nz/regulatory_settings.html Regulatory Settings] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523192635/http://www.nzgeothermal.org.nz/regulatory_settings.html |date=2010-05-23 }} (from the New Zealand Geothermal Association website. Accessed 2010-05-02.)

;Geothermal Energy Regulations 1961

The Geothermal Energy Regulations 1961 define the role of "geothermal inspectors" and specify processes for applications for authorities and licences.{{cite web| url=http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/1961/0124/latest/whole.html?search=ts_all%40act%40bill%40regulation_geothermal#DLM15785| title=Geothermal Energy Regulations 1961| publisher=Zealand Parliamentary Counsel Office| access-date=16 May 2008}}

;Rotorua City Geothermal Energy Empowering Act 1967

The Rotorua City Geothermal Energy Empowering Act 1967 is an Act to enable the Rotorua City Council to make provisions for the control of the tapping and use of geothermal energy in the city of Rotorua.

;Resource Management Act 1991

The Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) is a significant, and at times, controversial Act of Parliament passed in 1991. The RMA regulates access to natural and physical resources such as land, air and water, with sustainable use of these resources being the overriding goal. New Zealand's Ministry for the Environment describes the RMA as New Zealand's principal legislation for environmental management.[http://mfe.govt.nz/rma/index.php/ Resource Management Act] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080430170926/http://www.mfe.govt.nz/rma/index.php |date=2008-04-30 }} (from the Ministry for the Environment website. Retrieved 2007-07-31.)

The Resource Management Act is the principal legislation controlling the use of geothermal resources in New Zealand. The New Zealand Geothermal Association considers the procedures which are currently being adopted under the RMA as the single largest obstacle to further geothermal development, holding that "the regulatory process leads to long delays which impose a significant up-front cost on projects, reducing their financial viability".

{{See also|List of power stations in New Zealand}}

Geothermal development projects include Tauhara stage 2 and Te Huka Unit 3.

{{div col|colwidth=25em}}

• Energy in New Zealand
• Electricity sector in New Zealand
• Geothermal areas in New Zealand
• Renewable energy commercialisation
• Solar power in New Zealand
• Wind power in New Zealand
• Ocean power in New Zealand
• Biofuel in New Zealand
• Hydroelectric power in New Zealand
• Solar hot water in New Zealand
• Renewable energy in New Zealand
• Renewable energy by country{{div col end}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{cite book | editor=Martin, John E | title=People, Power and Power Stations: Electric Power Generation in New Zealand 1880 - 1990| location=Wellington| publisher= Bridget Williams Books Ltd and Electricity Corporation of New Zealand| year=1991 | isbn=0-908912-16-1| pages = 316 pages}}

• [http://www.teara.govt.nz/EarthSeaAndSky/HotSpringsAndGeothermalEnergy/GeothermalEnergy/en Geothermal energy in New Zealand] (from Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand)

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