UC engineers researching for cheaper electricity on Stewart Island
March 17, 2014
The University of Canterbury (UC) is investigating ways of providing the Stewart Island community with a renewable
electricity system.
Stewart Islanders presently rely entirely on diesel generators and pay about 81c per kWh, about three times the price
charged in the rest of New Zealand.
UC Civil and Natural Resources energy engineer Dr Ian Mason is modelling various combinations of wind, solar and hydro
generation for the island.
He is collaborating with UC electrical engineering graduate and overall project manager Robin McNeill of Venture
Southland.
"A electricity system utilising wind, solar and / or hydro resources, but initially retaining the diesel generators for
back-up duties makes sense," Dr Mason says.
Diesel from the mainland costs about $500,000 per year. An undersea cable from the mainland to link to the national grid
would cost about $10 million.
The wind resource on Stewart Island is expected to be useful and any micro-hydro generation would be valuable. While
Stewart Island gets low sunshine hours compared to the rest of New Zealand, the level is comparable to parts of Germany
and Japan which have extensive solar powered installations.
Detailed on-site monitoring to obtain design information will begin once resource consents are obtained.
Note: UC’s Civil and Structural Engineering has been ranked 19th out of the top 3000 universities in the world in the latest
QS rankings by subject.
ENDS