KEY POINTS:
New Zealand is heading backwards in its goals of becoming carbon neutral or meeting the Kyoto Protocol, says a study.
In its Energy and the Economy 1997-2005, Statistics New Zealand showed energy use per person increased 13 per cent over the period.
Use of non-renewable energy increased to 82 per cent by 2005 from 79.8 per cent at the start of the study.
Energy imports increased by 48 per cent over the eight years.
Total demand for energy increased by 21 per cent over the period to 515 petajoules and GDP increased by 28 per cent, which SNZ said indicated "a slight, relative energy decoupling for New Zealand".
The increased demand for energy was mainly driven by increased use of non-renewable fossil fuels which grew by 24 per cent to 421 petajoules.
"The increase has been driven primarily by increased use of vehicles, although there has also been increased reliance on coal-generated electricity," SNZ said.
New Zealand's GDP per person increased 18 per cent over the period and the population grew by 8 per cent.
Under the Kyoto treaty, New Zealand is required to reduce carbon emissions by 2012 or offset increases with other activities such as planting trees.
New Zealand energy exports fell 20 per cent during the period despite an 18 per cent increase in coal exports. The fall is mainly due to the depletion of the Maui gas field.
Households were the largest consumers of energy, using almost a third, while the transport and storage sector used a quarter.
In terms of energy intensity, the transport and storage sector improved its efficiency by 12 per cent since 1997.
Most industries improved efficiency - the amount of energy used for every dollar produced.
Metal product manufacturing, dominated by Comalco's Tiwai Point aluminium smelter, has the most intensive use of energy, but managed a 13 per cent reduction in intensity. Fishing uses nearly eight times the energy of agriculture and its energy intensity increased 36 per cent from 1997, largely due to its lower contribution to GDP and much steeper diesel prices.
- NZPA
