MEDIA RELEASE FROM THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION AUTHORITY

Thursday 5 June 2008

Wave Energy Popular With New Zealanders

New Zealand’s waves and tides are a world-class resource for energy generation, and recent research by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) shows 75% of New Zealanders support marine energy as a future electricity generation option.

A test generator from Wave Energy Technology New Zealand(WET-NZ) is being trialled in Wellingtonharbour today.

WET-NZ is a partnership between Industrial Research Limited (IRL), NIWA and Power Projects Limited (PPL) with funding from the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology.

EECA Chief ExecutiveMikeUnderhillsays World Environment Day is a good time to focus on the future, and how we can generate more energy from renewable sources.

Independent research conducted for EECA shows overwhelming support for renewable energy.

“94% of people think renewable energy is something New Zealand needs to focus on for the future and renewable energy consistently scores highly when it comes to people’s preferred form of generation,” says Mike Underhill.

Marine energy has strong appeal for people, with 75% of respondents saying they support it. While there’s a lower level of knowledge because it’s new technology, there was no significant negative response.

“As well as working to keep a lid on demand for energy, EECA’s job is to encourage the uptake of energy from renewable sources, to help meet the government’s target of 90 percent renewables by 2025.

“It’s heartening to see New Zealanders at the cutting edge of developing new technology.

“We have great natural wave and tidal resources, we have great minds in New Zealandturning their attention to how to harness those resources, and now we have a New Zealanddesigned and built generator in the water. It’s only a matter of time before commercial generation of electricity from marine energy becomes a reality.”

MikeUnderhillcongratulated the partners in WET-NZ for getting their project to this stage and wished them well for the future.

For more details on the research, http://www.eeca.govt.nz/renewable-energy/documents/renewable-energy-nielsen-research-report-may-08.pdf

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