Hydro and Wind Electricity Generation Up

New Zealand Energy Statistics: September 2004 quarter

6 December 2004 Hydro and Wind Electricity Generation Up

Electricity generation by hydro and wind was 27.4 percent higher in the September 2004 quarter than in the September 2003 quarter, according to Statistics New Zealand. Hydro and wind generation reached 7,663 gigawatt hours in the September 2004 quarter, the highest quarterly volume ever recorded. Thermal generation (3092 gigawatt hours) was 26 percent lower than in the September 2003 quarter.

In the September 2004 quarter, hydro and wind generation supplied 71 percent of the electricity generated, compared with 59 percent in the September 2003 quarter. This lower contribution in the September 2003 quarter was due to low lake levels. Over the past 10 years, the average September quarterly contribution of hydro and wind generation to total electricity generation has been 65 percent.

Renewable resources, such as hydro, wind, geothermal and biomass, were used to produce 77 percent of the electricity generated for supply to consumers in the September 2004 quarter.

Seasonally adjusted electricity generation rose 2.4 percent in the September 2004 quarter compared with the June 2004 quarter.

Brian Pink

Government Statistician

ENDS

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