Resources: Energy


New Zealand sources as much of its energy as possible from natural resources. In 2017, 82% was from renewable resources – including sunlight, wind, water and geothermal heat sources.

Hydro and geothermal energy are continually the largest contributors to New Zealand’s energy supply. Geothermal continues to be the most inexpensive source of new energy and one of the most reliable due to its lack of dependence on the weather. The Taupo Volcanic Zone on the North Island has some of the country’s highest-temperature geothermal fields which also boasts the majority of the generation facilities. There are other plants at other faults and tectonic features across the country.

While geothermal energy is renewable and abundant in New Zealand, it requires careful management and monitoring to control water and pressure levels and prevent land subsidence and depletion. Geothermal fluids also contain gases and minerals, and the amount released depends on the design of the plant, meaning that electricity generated from geothermal energy will in fact produce greenhouse gas emissions, however drastically less than even the cleanest natural gas-fuelled power station. 

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  1. UnknownMarch 28, 2019 at 2:18 PM

    https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/plans-projects-policies-reports-bylaws/our-plans-strategies/topic-based-plans-strategies/environmental-plans-strategies/docslowcarbonaim/low-carbon-strategic-action-plan-energy.pdf

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