Shillong, September 14: According to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), New Zealand has reached a remarkable milestone, achieving 91% renewable electricity generation in the June 2023 quarter.
This represents a substantial 10-percentage point increase compared to the same period in 2022.
As per a report in IANS, this achievement is highlighted in the latest New Zealand Energy Quarterly report, which covers data and analysis for the months of April to June 2023. The report delves into various aspects of energy supply, demand, pricing, and the associated greenhouse gas emissions.
Mike Hayward, the manager of the Markets in the Digital, Data & Insights group at MBIE, expressed, “This marks the highest percentage of renewable electricity generation ever recorded for a June quarter since data collection began in 1980.”
The substantial increase in renewable electricity during April to June of this year can be attributed to elevated levels of rainfall, which helped replenish hydro lakes. Additionally, the completion of the Turitea wind farm in Palmerston North played a significant role in boosting the share of wind-generated electricity in the energy mix.
Comparing the June 2023 quarter to the same period in the previous year, hydro generation saw a substantial increase of 25.2%. In contrast, coal generation decreased by a significant 71.7%, and gas generation also decreased, showing a 45.7% decline. Furthermore, this quarter witnessed a notable 9.4% rise in net gas production and a significant 22.6% reduction in industrial coal use when compared to the corresponding quarter of the previous year.
