Integrating wind-generated electricity into New Zealand's transmission network would be cheaper than alternative options, an Environment Court appeal hearing against Meridian Energy's proposed $2 billion Project Hayes wind-farm development was told yesterday.
Meridian called its fourth witness in the resumed hearing, Prof Goran Strbac, of London, to give evidence on the potential logistics of increased wind-energy generation in New Zealand.
In his written evidence, Prof Strbac said wind was a favourable option for additional electricity generation as New Zealand had significant hydro generation, which would provide flexibility to complement wind at a low cost.
"Hydro generation in the New Zealand system considerably enhances the capacity value of wind.
"Hydro generation with reservoirs can, to a certain degree, shift hydro-energy delivery in time to complement wind conditions," he said.
He said increased generation by wind would have a high value as it would displace the amount of relatively expensive thermal generation required by the country.
"Due to the high-capacity credit of wind generation and the presence of significant hydro generation in New Zealand, the additional capacity costs attributed to wind are substantially lower than in thermal-based systems," he said.
Prof Strbac also said New Zealand had a high capacity to take wind-generated electricity, and at a "conservative" estimate, 20% of the country's total energy could feasibly come from wind.
He estimated about 1170MW would be installed in the lower South Island transmission system by 2020, which would be significantly more than the combined generation of Project Hayes (630MW), Mahinerangi (200MW), and White Hill (58MW) wind farms.
All three developments are either consented, proposed or operational.
Day 20
Panel: Environment Court judge Jon Jackson, commissioner Alex Sutherland, commissioner Heather McConachy, and deputy commissioner Ken Fletcher.
Project: In October 2007 Meridian Energy was granted resource consent for a 176-turbine wind farm on the Lammermoor Range in Central Otago.
Players: Appellants: Upland Landscape Protection Society, John, Sue, and Andrew Douglas, Maniototo Environmental Society, Eric and Cate Laurenson and the Eric and Cate Laurenson Family Trust, Ian and Sarah Manson and the Riverview Settlement Trust, Gaelle dit-Piquard, Ewan Carr, and Roch Sullivan.
Other parties: Central Otago District Council and Meridian Energy. New Zealand Historic Places Trust, Contact Energy, and Brian Miller withdrew appeals. Ewan Carr withdrew Brookside Properties and Danseys Pass Coach Inn from his own appeal.
Yesterday's witness: Professor of electrical energy systems at Imperial College London, and director of the UK Government Centre for Sustainable Electricity and Distributed Generation, Prof Goran Strbac.
Today: Meridian witnesses Tony Coggan and Peter Rough.
Quote of the day: "You are really pushing my patience now, Mr Sullivan - please move on."
- Judge Jon Jackson asks appellant Roch Sullivan to keep his cross-examination of Prof Strbac relevant and appropriate.
