NZ using more thermal power

New Zealand had to resort to using more thermal power during the December quarter just when hydrocarbon prices were at their highest in years, according to Statistics New Zealand today.

Generation by fossil fuels (coal and gas) was the highest ever in the December quarter level, the department said.

December 2005 was the first December quarter in which hydro and wind generation provided less than 60 per cent of total electricity, Statistics New Zealand said today.

The volume of electricity generated by hydro and wind fell to the lowest level recorded in a December quarter since December 2001.

The average contribution of hydro and wind to total electricity generation in December quarters over the past 10 years has been 69 per cent.

The contribution of different fuel types to the generation of electricity within each quarter can be volatile, being dependent on conditions such as the lake levels for hydro generation.

The December quarter generally has a lower demand for total electricity generation than the June and September quarters, and usually has a higher proportion of hydro and wind generation.

The decrease in hydro and wind generation was offset by thermal generation (gas, coal and geothermal) reaching the highest level ever recorded in a December quarter.

In the quarter, 66 per cent of electricity for sale to consumers was generated using renewable resources, such as hydro, wind, geothermal and biomass -- well down on the 73 per cent in December 2004 and 78 per cent in December 2002.

After adjusting for seasonal variations, the volume of total electricity generated in the December 2005 quarter rose 1.1 per cent compared with the September 2005 quarter.

- NZPA